Skippylongstocking Scores Lucrative Oaklawn Handicap Win

Skippylongstocking turned his Oaklawn Park debut into a command performance Saturday as he accelerated to the lead nearing the home turn and drew off to win the $1.25-million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) by two lengths

Stablemate County Final sprinted out to lead early and set the tempo with Skippylongstocking just off his flank in second before drawing even to the outside of the front-runner midway on the turn. On cue from Jose Ortiz, Skippylongstocking forged to the front nearing the lane, led by three lengths in early stretch, and maintained a clear advantage to the wire.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for Daniel Alonso, 5-2 favorite Skippylongstocking returned $7.60 for the win after covering the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 flat.

Highland Falls, a regally bred son of Curlin and 2006 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) victress Round Pond, closed well late to finish second, three lengths ahead of millionaire Red Route One, who rallied from last in the 11-horse field to take third. He was followed, in order, by Reincarnate, Magic Tap, Last Samurai, Octane, County Final, Instant Coffee, Guntown and Double Crown.

Fractions on the race were  :23.21, :47.62 and 1:11.99 through six furlongs.

A 5-year-old son of Exaggerator, Skippylongstocking entered off a 2½-length victory in the Challenger (G3) for older horses March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs. Saturday's victory was his  sixth in a graded stakes and improved his career line to 8-2-4 from 23 starts. The $637,500 winner's share of the Oaklawn Handicap purse increased his lifetime bankroll to $2,291,685.

Alonso purchased Skippylongstocking, who is out of the War Chant mare Twinkling, for $37,000 at the 2021 OBS Spring Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale, where Top Line Sales consigned him. He was bred in Kentucky by Brushy Hill LLC

As part of the Maryland Jockey Club’s “Win Today, See You in May Series,” the Oaklawn Handicap win provided Skippylongstocking with automatic entry into the $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) at 1 3/16 miles May 17 at Pimlico.

Also on Saturday's card, it was a Steve Asmussen-trained exacta in the $200,000 Bathhouse Row Stakes as Informed Patriot edged Imperial Gun by a head in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds.

The win provided Asmussen his record-extending 113^th career Oaklawn stakes victory and record third in the Bathhouse Row.

Informed Patriot, owned by Texans Kirk and Judy Robison, was exiting a fifth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (G1) March 30 at Oaklawn.

In the Bathhouse Row, Informed Patriot ($8.80) shadowed front-running Maximus Magic through six furlongs in a modest 1:13.89 and shook clear turning for home. Informed Patriot led by a length in midstretch and held off a fast-closing Imperial Gun at the finish.

Informed Patriot’s winning time over a fast track was 1:51.48. 

Imperial Gun finished four lengths ahead of Gould’s Gold, who was followed, in order, by Maximus Magic, Brilliant Man, Count Dracula and 5-2 favorite Militant. Willy D’s was a late scratch.

Informed Patriot, a son of Hard Spun, raised his career earnings to $313,140 following his second victory from eight starts. The Bathhouse Row was his first career stakes victory.

Informed Patriot earned automatic entry into the Preakness (G1) May 18 at Pimlico with his Bathhouse Row victory. The Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Asmussen also won the inaugural running of the Bathhouse Row (then known as the Oaklawn Invitational) in 2019 with Laughing Fox and again last year with Red Route One.