A familiar favorite is nearing a comeback. Multiple Grade 2 winner Skippylongstocking has resumed training, sparking excitement for a potential return to the Gulfstream Park spotlight this December.
There’s a quiet confidence in trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s voice as he speaks about his stable star. “We gave him a little break after his last race,” Joseph said Friday after watching the six-year-old’s easy three-furlong breeze in :39.30 at Palm Meadows. “In the last race, he got the thumps pretty good. He’s doing well. This was his first work back. If all is well, we’ll point toward the [Dec. 20] $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) and then the [Jan. 24] $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1).”
For fans, the sight of Skippylongstocking back in action would be a welcome one. The son of Exaggerator has built a reputation as one of the toughest campaigners in American dirt racing, winning 11 of 34 starts and banking over $3.6 million in prize money. His career highlights include victories in the 2025 Hollywood Gold Cup (G2), 2024 Charles Town Classic (G2), and 2024 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) — not to mention earlier wins in the 2023 Charles Town Classic and 2022 Harlan’s Holiday. He also placed third in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), proving his mettle among elite company.
Joseph added that another familiar face, White Abarrio, will also be aimed toward defending his Pegasus World Cup crown, setting up a potentially thrilling stable showdown.
Joseph and D’Angelo Locked in Training Title Battle
While Skippylongstocking readies for his return, his trainer is fighting a different kind of race — a dogfight for the Sunshine Meet training title. With just eight racing days left, Joseph leads Jose D’Angelo by the narrowest of margins, 25-23, after a powerful Friday performance that saw him saddle three winners: Cooey ($4.20) in Race 4, Mr Narcissistic ($4.40) in Race 8, and Valiant Honor ($3.20) in Race 9.
Joseph, who has dominated Gulfstream Park in recent years with 13 straight titles, is chasing his 14th consecutive crown, but D’Angelo remains within striking distance. The pair entered Friday’s card tied at 22 wins apiece before Joseph’s triple gave him a crucial advantage.
In the jockeys’ race, Miguel Vasquez holds a slim two-win edge over Edgard Zayas, 32-30, as the Sunshine Meet nears its conclusion. Gulfstream’s next major session, the 2025–26 Championship Meet, opens on Thanksgiving Day, November 27.
$50,000 Rainbow 6 Jackpot Awaits on Saturday
Saturday’s action at Gulfstream Park promises more excitement off the track too, with the Rainbow 6 jackpot pool projected to reach $50,000 after going unsolved Friday.
The sequence begins with the $70,000 Awesome Banner Handicap, a competitive mile contest for 3-year-olds and up. Trainer Bobby Dibona’s Steppe (9-5) tops the morning line after two strong mile wins, while Patrick Biancone’s Classic of Course shares highweight honors and brings versatility across dirt, turf, and Tapeta.
The closing leg, a mile-and-70-yard optional claiming allowance, features Dibona’s Nate the Great, an 8-5 favorite renowned for his Tapeta consistency — never off the board in 11 starts on the surface, with five victories to his name.
As always, the Rainbow 6 offers a unique challenge: the jackpot only pays out when there’s a single winning ticket with all six winners. When multiple hit, 70% of the pool is distributed among them, while 30% carries over.
Read more Gulfstream Park racing news and updates at RaceBuzz.
