Skelly Quick as Ever in Oaklawn Park Victory
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Photo: Coady Photography
Skelly wins an allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn Park
Time on the shelf did nothing to dull Skelly 's blazing speed.
The Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) winner, racing for the first time in seven months since winning the Speightstown Sprint Stakes in late May at Lone Star Park, returned successfully Dec. 30 at Oaklawn Park, leading throughout in a $143,000 allowance optional claiming race. Setting fractions of :22.13 and :45.53, the 4-year-old stopped the timer with a final time of 1:09.66 for six furlongs under regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr.
Welcome back, SKEL!
SKELLY returns from the layoff for the win in an Allowance at @OaklawnRacing for Red Lane Thoroughbreds and Steve Asmussen & team!
Thank you to the entire Asmussen team, @RSantana_Jr, & @rebeccatbrace & her team! pic.twitter.com/Fik9sw2ZtC— Frank Alosa (@FrankAlosa) December 30, 2023
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen for Red Lane Thoroughbreds, Skelly recorded his sixth consecutive victory, all since being gelded and adding blinkers last winter. Three of his recent string of victories have come in stakes, with the Lake Hamilton Stakes May 6 at Oaklawn being the other besides the Count Fleet and Speightstown Sprint.
Upcoming sprint stakes for older male sprinters at Oaklawn, all at Skelly's preferred distance of six furlongs, include the $150,000 King Cotton Stakes Jan. 27, the $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) March 16, and the $500,000 Count Fleet April 13.
- Bred in Kentucky by H. Allen Poindexter, Skelly is out of the Bwana Charlie mare Adande .
- His sire, Practical Joke , is ranked second in 2023 among third-crop stallions and stands next year for a $65,000 fee at Ashford Stud.