Daniel Alonso’s Skippylongstocking is scheduled to make his 35th career start in Saturday’s $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream Park, targeting his 10th graded-stakes victory and 17th graded-stakes placing, while hoping to secure a spot in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on January 24.
“He’s a horse that’s matured beautifully with age,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “He’s extremely resilient, particularly for a dirt horse. Turf horses are easier to manage, as they don’t require such intense training. For a dirt horse to compete consistently from 6 into 7 years old, it really speaks to his temperament and soundness. We’re grateful for all he’s accomplished, and we believe he still has more to deliver.”
The son of Exaggerator, who claimed the 2022 Harlan’s Holiday late in his three-year-old season, enters the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up after two underwhelming performances—seventh in the Aug. 2 Whitney (G1) at Saratoga and eighth in the Aug. 22 Charles Town Classic (G2).
“His last two outings weren’t ideal. The Whitney wasn’t too bad—it was his first race back after some downtime. He made a strong move but tired late, so that was acceptable,” Joseph said. “The Charles Town race was disappointing. He got the thumps, which he’s experienced occasionally. It’s a spasmic contraction of the diaphragm, similar to hiccups in humans.”
Skippylongstocking has impressed in his recent workouts at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.
“He’s training extremely well. We gave him a rest, and all the feedback has been positive,” Joseph added. “He’s six, turning seven, but we feel he’s just as capable now as he was at his peak. Hopefully, that will show on Saturday.”
The horse has a record of bouncing back following subpar efforts. “He’s been in this situation before, and we’ve managed to get him back into top form,” Joseph said. “We’re quietly confident the true Skippy will show up.”
Tyler Gaffalione, who rode Skippylongstocking to victory in the Challenger (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs and third in last year’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational, will pilot him in the Harlan’s Holiday. Under race conditions, the multiple Grade 2 winner, rated third at 3-1 on the morning line, will carry 126 pounds, five to eight pounds more than his six rivals.
Joseph also trains Hold My Bourbon, a 4-year-old Anchor Down ridgling for Gray V Train Racing LLC. After an allowance victory at Saratoga in August, Hold My Bourbon struggled in graded events, finishing off-the-board in the Forego (G1), and fifth in the Parx Sprint and a Keeneland allowance. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Hold My Bourbon (6-1) for the first time in Saturday’s Harlan’s Holiday.
Godolphin’s Poster will be ridden by Flavien Prat, the leading graded-stakes jockey in the U.S. this year. Returning from a five-month layoff, the 3-year-old Munnings colt captured a mile optional claiming allowance at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. “He’s in excellent shape. I wouldn’t bring him down there if I didn’t have complete confidence he’s ready to run a big race,” trainer Eoin Harty said. Poster, favored at 2-1, won his first two starts on turf at Ellis Park and Keeneland last year and claimed the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct on his stakes debut.
Con Compania makes his first start for trainer Bobby Dibona and owners TCC Stables LLC, Michael Iavarone, and Jules Iavarone in the Harlan’s Holiday. The 5-year-old Chilean-bred gelding, rated second at 5-1 on the morning line, enters off a front-running victory in the mile Mr. Jordan Handicap at Gulfstream. Miguel Vasquez will ride him.
Classic of Course, trained by Patrick Biancone for Amy Dunne, finished third behind Con Compania in the Oct. 18 Mr. Jordan before winning the mile Awesome Banner Handicap three weeks later. The 4-year-old comes into the Harlan’s Holiday after a fourth-place finish in the Sabal Palm Handicap at a mile and 70 yards on Tapeta. Junior Alvarado will have the mount for the first time in the race.
Racing Driver, a mile optional claiming allowance winner in his return to Gulfstream, and Catalytic, who has never finished worse than second in nine Gulfstream starts, complete the Harlan’s Holiday field.
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