Skippylongstocking Repeats in Charles Town Classic
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Photo: Coady Media/Renee Torbit
Skippylongstocking is all alone under the lights in capturing the Charles Town Classic Stakes at Charles Town Races
Replicating if not somewhat surpassing his victory in the 2023 Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2), Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking took charge in the $1 million, 1 1/8-mile race Aug. 23 and scored a blowout victory over longshots Velocitor and Komorebino Omoide .
The winner's time of 1:50.34, about a second and a half off the track record, was quicker than his 2023 clocking of 1:51.37, and his margin of victory was somewhat larger than last year. He crossed the wire 5 3/4 lengths in front after winning by five lengths last summer.
Even the manner of his victory was similar. He sped to the front under Jose Ortiz in the three-turn race on the six-furlong oval at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and asserted his superiority. Clear by a length for much of the race over Frosted Departure , who would ultimately weaken to seventh, he turned aside bids from stalking rivals Velocitor and Komorebino Omoide on the final turn before drawing away.
The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee earned $564,000 for his Friday night victory, boosting his earnings to $2,992,985. He is 9-2-5 in 26 starts. He returned $4.20 to win as the heavy favorite in the field of 10. Joseph's other starter, Lord Miles , finished last in the field of 10.
Skippylongstocking's effort followed a fifth-place finish in the Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, where he weakened after chasing victorious Arthur's Ride through fast fractions.
Last year, he followed up the Charles Town Classic with a third-place finish behind Cody's Wish and National Treasure in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park. Most of his experience has come in races from a mile to 1 1/8 miles.
Classic-placed Skippylongstocking, bred in Kentucky by Brushy Hill, is a 5-year-old son of Exaggerator out of the War Chant mare Twinkling , a producer of three stakes winners from four foals to race. He was a $37,000 purchase by his owner from the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
The 2016 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner, Exaggerator stood this past season for $5,000 at Elite Thoroughbreds in Louisiana.
Video: Charles Town Classic S. (G2)
More Joseph Success
Another Joseph trainee, Mystic Lake , excelled in the race preceding the Charles Town Classic, taking the $750,000 Charles Town Oaks (G2) over seven furlongs. After tracking the early pace, she took over and pulled away by 5 3/4 lengths, timed in 1:24.18 under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. She paid $14 to win.
Mystic Lake wins the Charles Town Oaks
The 3-year-old daughter of Mo Town , bred in Florida by Peggy Costanzo out of the Itsmyluckyday mare Salty Soul, races for owners C2 Racing Stable and Stefania Farms. In earning her second graded stakes win this year, she is 5-3-1 in 11 career starts with earnings of $758,554.
Grade 2 winner My Mane Squeeze , outpaced early and hung wide and bumped entering the first turn, rallied to grab second over Princess Madison .