Hard-knocking OBS graduate Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator – Twinkling, by War Chant) added another achievement to his accomplished resume when he scored at odds-on in the Gr. 2, $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup going 1 ¼ miles May 26 at Santa Anita Park.

    For Skippylongstocking, who is based with trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. the victory marked his eighth graded stakes victory at six tracks in four-plus seasons of racing. It pushed his overall record to 11-3-7 from 32 starts with career earnings of $3,661,610.

    “He’s just a hard-knocking horse who takes his track with him everywhere he goes,” Joseph told the Santa Anita publicity team. “He’s a sound horse and he’s very strong mentally. We’ll be forever grateful for him.”

    Skippylongstocking won in a time of 2:01.64 for owner Daniel Alonso, besting runner-up and fellow OBS grad Midnight Mammoth. He was purchased by Alonso for $37,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2021 OBS Spring Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5.

    Other OBS grads to earn stakes victories over the holiday weekend included Happy Tenth Stable’s Buccherino (Bucchero – Bellimbusto, by First Dude) who rolled to a one-length victory in Monday’s $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth Park. Trained by Alfredo Velazquez, the 4-year-old son of OBS grad Bucchero is now 2-for-2 this year after being idle for more than eight months after tearing the frog off one of his hooves.

    Buccherino was purchased for $75,000 by Blue River Bloodstock, Inc., Agent, at the 2023 OBS April Sale after breezing in :10 flat.

    At Lone Star Park May 26, C2 Racing Stable's Mystic Lake (Mo Town - Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday) notched a two-length win in the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint, also for trainer Saffie Joseph.

    Named the 2024 Florida-bred Horse of the Year by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, Mystic Lake is a two-time OBS graduate, sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2022 October Yearling Sale and then purchased for $130,000 out of the Tom McCrocklin consignment at the 2023 March Sale after breezing in :20.4/5.

    The Lone Star Park holiday card also saw Steve Asmussen’s Neom Beach (Omaha Beach - Giant's Causey, by Giant's Causeway) earn her first stakes win when she romped to a 6 1/2-length win in the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff, which was moved from turf to dirt. Neom Beach was purchased by Nwadr Stables for $210,000 out of the 2023 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Julie Davies after breezing in :10 flat.

    On Sunday at Hawthorne, the $50,000 Work All Week Stakes took place for sprinters and was captured by King Cab (Noble Bird - Alotofappeal, by Trippi) by a half-length. Owned by Maribel Triana and trained by Heather Irion, King Cab was purchased by Plesa, Melin, and Ellman for $110,000 at the 2021 OBS June Sale from the Ocala Stud consignment after breezing in :21 4/5. comments powered by Disqus