You could call SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING the everyday person’s racehorse, a blue collar guy who has traveled to all parts of the United States, testing his talent against the best horses in the world. He tried Triple Crown races as a three-year-old, and his first big win was the rich West Virginia Derby (G3). In 2023, he scooped over $500,000 in the Charles Town Classic, a race he won again in 2024, bagged $600,000 for his win in the Oaklawn Handicap and last year, he went to take the Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita.
And now, Skippylongstocking has granted his owner Daniel Alonso and his ace trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. with a Grade 1 win in his fourth attempt in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, netting $1.6 million and earning, perhaps, a trip for both to the other side of the world.
Seven-year-old Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator – Twinkling by War Chant) and his rider Tyler Gafflione, powered down the Gulfstream Park stretch in the 10th Pegasus and reeled in his richer, more heralded stablemate White Abarrio to take the 1 1/8 mile dirt race by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:48.49. White Abarrio, who came into the race off a five-month layoff, was a clear second over Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (2024) winner Full Serrano. Previously unbeaten Disco Time was favoured, but was hard sent to the lead and went very fast before fading to eighth.
The Pegasus win earned Skippy a free trip to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keenelend in October and he might be sent to the Dubai World Cup in March.
Skippy had a prep before the Pegasus as he won the Harlan’s Holiday by a hard-fought head on Dec. 20.
“It’s amazing. At seven years old, he was doing better than ever,” Joseph said. “The Harlan’s Holiday was a big race. It was either, he was going to show up, or he was going to be retired. He showed up, but he did better since then.”
Joseph had expressed confidence in Skippylongstocking’s chances of victory Saturday despite his three prior failed attempts.
“I had all the confidence in him going into this race, but I was so focused on White Abarrio. I wanted Abarrio to come back and run in this race. I’m so proud of White Abarrio. I can’t believe how he ran for the preparation that he had, to come back the way he just did,” Joseph said. “I’m just proud of both horses and happy for both owners.”
Owner Alonso bought Skippy for $37,000 from the Ocala April Two-Year-Old in Training Sale in 2021. The year before, the dark bay was bought for $15,000 as a yearling by Double Jak Investments from breeder Brushy Hill LLC.
“It feels amazing. We’ve been knocking on Grade 1 here for a little bit. He’s just such an amazing force. My dad, my mom, my wife, my family — he’s taken us on this amazing ride.
“We’ve run in some of the best races in the world. From the Whitney to the Charles Town to Hollywood, he’s taken us on an amazing ride. To win the Grade 1 here at home in front of our friends and family, it means everything. Right jockey, right trainer, right team.”
C2 Racing Stable LLC, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable LLC’s White Abarrio, a seven-year-old who entered the Pegasus World Cup with 10 career victories and more than $7.1 million in purse earnings, finished 5 ½ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Full Serrano.
“He ran an amazing race. He ran his race. He has a big heart. I trust him, I trust Saffie. He hadn’t run in a long time, so I think it’s not easy to come back here at a mile and an eighth and run against these horses,” said Ortiz, who guided White Abarrio to a 6 ¼-length victory in last year’s Pegasus World Cup. “To do what he did, it’s amazing. I’m so happy for this horse. He’s a very cool horse. He’s given me a lot through the years. I don’t want to see him get beat. He’s a fighter.”
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SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING, who is still an entire horse, is by 2016 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Exaggerator, a son of Curlin whose first foals began racing in 2020. The stallion has had modest success and he currently stands in Louisiana.
The dam of Skippylongstocking is Twinkling, by War Chant, and she was placed twice in five races. Twinkling is a half-sister to 23-time winner Mr Lightning Boy. From five named foals, Twinkling has also produced stakes winners Olivia Twist and Moonlite Strike. She has an unraced three-year-old of 2026 named Nahla, a filly by Authentic who is working at Payson Park.
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