HALLANDALE BEACH - The fourth time was the charm for Daniel Alonso’s Skippylongstocking Saturday at Gulfstream Park, as the hard-knocking 7-year-old gelding captured the elusive $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in his unprecedented fourth try.

    The 10th running of the Pegasus World Cup brought down the curtain on a spectacular 13-race program with 10 stakes, seven graded, worth $5.675 million in purses, including the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) and the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2).

    While finally winning the 1 1/8-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up, Skippylongstocking ($45.20) defeated the 2025 Pegasus World Cup champion and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. stablemate White Abarrio by 1 ¾ lengths.

    Skippylongstocking, who prepped for the Pegasus World Cup with a victory in the Dec. 28 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream, had finished seventh in 2003, did not finish in 2004 and came in a distant third behind White Abarrio in last year.

   “It’s amazing. At 7 years old, he was doing better than ever,” Joseph said. “The Harlan’s Holiday was a big race. It was either, he was going to show up, or he was going to be retired. He showed up, but he did better since then.”

    Jockey Tyler Gaffalione settled the 7-year-old son of Exaggerator well off a solid pace set by Disco Time, the 3-2 favorite who showed the way past fractions of :22.25 and :46.09 seconds for the first half-mile under Flavien Prat. Gaffalione continued to bide his time on Skippylongstocking as Disco Time continued to show the way, chased by Full Serrano and Captain Cook, who were joined to their outside by White Abarrio heading into the far turn.

    White Abarrio, who hadn’t run since finishing fourth in the Aug. 25 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga and who had been scratched by attending veterinarians just before the start of the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar, made a sweeping move to take the lead on the turn into the homestretch. Just as the defending champion appeared on his way to achieving back-to-back victories in the Pegasus World Cup, Skippylongstocking began to lengthen stride while splitting horses to suddenly loom as the main danger. White Abarrio, the 3-1 third betting choice ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., opened up a clear lead in mid-stretch but was no match for his rallying stablemate.

    "Everything really went to plan. Saffie told me just to ride him with a lot of confidence, be patient with him, trust in his ability and he was there for me every step. The race set up the way we needed to,” Gaffalione said. “I was able to find a nice spot inside. He traveled well for me. Coming around the turn, he just kept building. And he just kept responding. When we got into the far turn and I had to split horses, and as soon as I did he took a nice deep breath and started moving forward. I'm so thrilled for the team, and so happy for the horse. He really deserved this Grade 1 win."

    Skippylongstocking, who entered the Pegasus World Cup with 12 career wins and more than $3.7 million in purse earnings, ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.49 to win the ‘Win and You’re In’ Breeders’ Cup Challenge Race, and earned a fees paid entry into the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

    “It just means everything. He’s an amazing horse, and he deserves it,” Alonso said. “Watching the races today we knew it was going to be tough coming from that far back, but he just found another gear today that we hadn’t seen before. To beat a champion like White Abarrio, it’s amazing.”

    Joseph had expressed confidence in Skippylongstocking’s chances of victory Saturday despite his three prior failed attempts. “I had all the confidence in him going into this race, but I was so focused on White Abarrio. I wanted Abarrio to come back and run in this race. I’m so proud of White Abarrio. I can’t believe how he ran for the preparation that he had, to come back the way he just did,” Joseph said. “I’m just proud of both horses and happy for both owners.”

    C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio, a 7-year-old who entered the Pegasus World Cup with 10 career victories and more than $7.1 million in purse earnings, finished 5 ½ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Full Serrano.

    “He ran an amazing race. He ran his race. He has a big heart. I trust him, I trust Saffie. He hadn’t run in a long time, so I think it’s not easy to come back here at a mile and an eighth and run against his horses,” said Ortiz, who guided White Abarrio to a 6 ¼-length victory in last year’s Pegasus World Cup. “To do what he did, it’s amazing. I’m so happy for this horse. He’s a very cool horse. He’s given me a lot through the years. I don’t want to see him get beat. He’s a fighter.”

    Captain Cook held to finish fourth. Disco Time faded to eighth and his trainer Brad Cox Jr. stablemate Tappan Steet, the 2025 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) winner who was the 3-1 betting choice, was never a factor and finished 12th and last. comments powered by Disqus