Skippylongstocking Seeks a Second Charles City Traditional

Chasing Arthur’s Journey  by way of quick fractions within the Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes (G1) didn’t work out for Skippylongstocking , who light to fifth, however coach Saffie Joseph Jr. has turned the web page and “Skippy” seeks a back-to-back victory within the $1 million Charles City Traditional Stakes (G2), to be run Aug. 23 at Hollywood On line casino At Charles City Races.

The 1 1/8-mile Traditional drew a area of 10 and is scheduled for 10:20 p.m. ET Friday as a part of a six-stakes card that additionally consists of the $750,000 Charles City Oaks (G2) and $500,000 Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes for 3-year-olds, each at seven furlongs.

Skippylongstocking, a 5-year-old by Exaggerator , remains to be going sturdy greater than two years after ending third behind Mo Donegal   within the 2022 Belmont Stakes (G1). The six-time graded winner took down the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at Oaklawn Park earlier this yr. Skippylongstocking has gained eight occasions in 25 begins and earned $2,428,985 for proprietor Daniel Alonso.

“He clearly gained this race final yr, and we wished to defend his title, however he needed to be doing nicely after the Whitney to do that, which he was, so right here we’re once more,” Joseph stated.

Skippylongstocking gained the 2023 Charles City Traditional wire to wire over a moist quick monitor, drawing off to win by 5 lengths.

Video: Charles City Traditional S. (G2)

“He is a horse that desires to get right into a rhythm in :47 or :48 after which construct off that,” Joseph stated. “The secret’s getting him in a groove the place he’s comfy and in a pleasant rhythm. He appears to run his greatest races that manner. 

“He broke so nicely within the Whitney, however he chased a horse in Arthur’s Journey that nothing was gonna beat him on the day. That tempo (1:10.28) in all probability compromised us. It isn’t within the fashion he needs to be chasing a scorching tempo, however we took our probability to win. You trip to win, to not run second.”

Whitney rider Jose Ortiz is again onboard within the Traditional on the even-money morning-line favourite. Joseph additionally has the companies of Irad Ortiz Jr. on his second entry, Vegso Racing Secure’s 2023 Wooden Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Lord Miles . The 4-year-old son of Curlin   is a stretch-running sort who ran second within the Hilton at Charles City final yr. Joseph believes he might be higher than his 20-1 morning line signifies.

There isn’t a scarcity of tactical pace within the area, together with West Virginia Governor’s Stakes (G3) third Komorebino Omoide , Suburban Stakes (G2) runner-up Bendoog , West Virginia-bred stakes winner Coastal Mission , and Frosted Departure , a front-running, 8 3/4-length winner of the July 28 Deputed Testamony Stakes at Laurel Park.