Skippylongstocking Romps in Charles Town Classic

Skippylongstocking  was bred in Kentucky, trains and often races in Florida, but his heart is in West Virginia.

The Daniel Alonso-owned 4-year-old son of Exaggerator , who captured the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) last year at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in Chester, added the state's richest race the evening of Aug. 25 in winning the $1 million Charles Town Classic (G2). The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee rolled by five lengths as the 7-5 favorite under Tyler Gaffalione, defeating his late-rallying stablemate O'Connor .

Dash Attack  ran third.

The 1 1/8-mile Charles Town Classic, contested around three turns over the six-furlong track at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, was essentially over at the start. Skippylongstocking broke first in the field of 10, speeding to the lead and darting in front of Giant Game , the frontrunning Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) winner who had defeated him earlier this summer, and the latter was forced to rate. Giant Game would weaken to sixth.

In control through splits of :24.82, :48.88, and 1:14.17,  Skippylongstocking had plenty left for the race's final three-eighths, opening up a four-length lead in midstretch and extending that margin a bit in the final furlong. He was timed in 1:51.37 for the distance, returning $4.80 for a $2 win wager.

"I was surprised to see him on the lead, and the fractions were reasonable enough that it gave you confidence," Joseph said in a post-race interview with Ashley Mailloux of FanDuel TV. "His ears were going up and down, back and forth, and I just couldn't believe it."

First prize of $576,000 in the Charles Town Classic boosted his earnings to $1,507,185, accomplished with a 6-2-3 record in 19 starts. He was a dual grade 3 winner in December and March and showed in last year's Belmont Stakes (G1), but West Virginia has provided him with his most lucrative paydays. His two starts in the state have netted him $884,000.

Bred by Brushy Hill out of the War Chant  mare Twinkling , Skippylongstocking was a $37,000 purchase by his owner from the Top Line Sales consignment to the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sale Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. He is among three stakes winners from his dam's four foals of racing age. Her youngest foals include a yearling filly by Maclean's Music   and an Authentic   filly born this year.

Charles Town, located in a city of the same name in the northeastern part of West Virginia, about an hour-and-a-half drive west from the major metropolitan areas of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, reported a record handle of $7,976,942 on Friday night's Charles Town Classic card. Wagering broke the previous record of $7,179,783 set on the 2021 Charles Town Classic card. 

"We couldn't be happier with the way the night unfolded," Charles Town director of racing operations Charlie McIntosh said. "To have our horseplayers support the product the way they did, and with an outstanding on-track turnout as well is truly special. It really is a testament to the entire team here at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races coming together and putting together an outstanding night that the fans loved. We can't wait to continue this outstanding momentum going into the 2024 renewal." 

Video: Charles Town Classic S. (G2)