Skippylongstocking

It was nothing less than a perfect GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who finished one-two in the $3-million race with Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) and White Abarrio (Race Day). To talk about his big day at Gulfstream, his concerns that White Abarrio would not run well, and plans for the two 7-year-olds going forward, Joseph joined this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast presented by Keeneland. Joseph was the Gainesway Guest of the Week. White Abarrio had not run since the Aug. 31 GI Jockey Club Gold Cup...

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. finished 1-2 in last weekend's GI Pegasus World Cup with Skippylongstocking and White Abarrio. He joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to talk about the impressive achievement.

Having so often berated Europeans for neglecting Not This Time, I do see the irony in the odyssey of his son Six Speed. Last spring, this colt was one of few Not This Time foals to have been given conspicuous opportunity to plant his flag on European turf. As a yearling, he had been found at Keeneland by Mags O'Toole, showing the familiar acuity that exonerates her from charges of myopia that must be leveled at so many other bloodstock professionals over the water. He cost just $50,000, from breeder...

Graded stakes winner Stormcast (Mitole) is among 19 additional entries to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale, which will be held Feb. 9 in Lexington. The latest group of supplements to the auction are catalogued as hip 386-404 and include several stakes winners and a half-sibling to a recent Grade I winner. The 5-year-old mare Stormcast, winner of the 2024 GIII Bessarabian Stakes, will be offered as hip 395 and will be consigned as a racing or broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency. Other supplemental entries include: Athena's War...

Stablemates Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) and White Abarrio (Race Day) exited their one-two finish in Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational in good shape and connections are still contemplating next moves for the 7-year-olds, according to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. "Nothing's signed yet. Just talking it over briefly, something like the GII Oaklawn Handicap comes into play for one of them," Joseph said. "And also the G1 Dubai World Cup. But nothing's really been decided yet. We're going to sleep on it and then decide." The Oaklawn Handicap will be run at...

During Sunday's post position draw at Gulfstream Park, Juddmonte Farm's Disco Time (Not This Time) gained the nod as the 8-5 morning-line favorite while drawing Post 1 for Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational. Disco Time is undefeated in five prior starts, including last season's GII Lecomte Stakes, St Louis Derby and Withers Stakes. The 4-year-old is trained by Brad Cox, who also WinStar Farm, CHC Inc., Cold Press Racing and Qatar Racing's Tappan Street (Into Mischief), winner of last season's GI Curlin Florida Derby. The former, given an 8-1...

The Pegasus World Cup card, to be held Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park, continued to take shape in Florida as several contenders turned in works Friday, including GII Red Smith Stakes winner Cugino (Twirling Candy), who is pointing to the $1-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf. The West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig Racing colorbearer breezed a half-mile in :49.11 (5/18) on Gulfstream's main track. He was last seen finishing second to Wolfie's Dynaghost (Ghostzapper) in the GIII Fort Lauderdale Stakes Dec. 20, the local Pegasus Turf prep. "No shame...

You probably won't find the name Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) on anyone's 2025 Eclipse Award ballot. Fanfare just doesn't come easily for a Louisiana-bred who has spent most of his career competing against fellow state breds. But the 7-year-old gelding is unquestionably one of the fastest horses in the sport. Is he fast enough to win the Jan. 24 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park? It appears he may just be given that chance. When the names of horses invited to the $3 million race were released, Touchuponastar...

Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) and Wolfie's Dynaghost (Ghostzapper) are on target for assignments on Jan. 24 Pegasus Day following stakes wins at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Skippylongstocking rebounded from a pair of off-the-board efforts to win the GIII Harlan's Holiday Stakes, a prep for the $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, and should improve for the effort, according to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. "We didn't know if he was fit enough to be back to his best. He showed he was training well. [Saturday] he had to come and do it. Thank God,...

It came down to the top two betting choices as 6-year-old Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) and 3-year-old Godolphin homebred and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Poster (Munnings) threw down through the final furlong but, in the end, Skippy got the better of his younger, favored rival to capture the GIII Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream Park Saturday. The traditional prep for next month's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, the Harlan's Holiday was Skippylongstocking's first race back since a case of the thumps saw him fade to eighth on a hot night in...

Out of action since his case of thumps in the GII Charles Town Classic Aug. 22, 6-year-old Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) returns to Gulfstream Park Saturday to contest the GIII Harlan's Holiday Stakes. Having started each of his last four campaigns in Florida for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., the fan favorite, who won this same race in front-running style as a 3-year-old in 2022, gets back on track after an eventful summer where he ran seventh to Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the GI Whitney Stakes before fading from the lead on...

Banishing (Ghostzapper) spoiled a bid by Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) to win the GII Charles Town Classic for the third year in a row when he successfully shipped in for West Virginia's biggest night at the races on Friday. The veteran who is co-owned by trainer David Jacobson scored his biggest triumph in the GIII Oaklawn Mile in Hot Springs Mar. 29 when he dueled and then defeated GISW Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming). Banishing was bested by First Mission (Street Sense) in the GII Oaklawn Handicap the next month, but he did...