Skippylongstocking Dazzles in Essex Romp

Making his first start since earning his first grade 1 triumph in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking showed he will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the entire season with an emphatic win in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3). Carrying top weight of 124 pounds, 6 to 7 pounds more than any of his rivals, the 7-year-old son of Exaggerator dazzled the Oaklawn Park crowd March 21 with a 5 1/4-length dominating victory as a heavy $4.20 favorite. Four-wide into the first turn under Micah Husbands, Skippylongstocking eased up into second entering the backstretch as Accelerize set fractions of :23.39 and :46.67. 'Skippy' skipped past that rival entering the far turn, and, from there, it was how much Husbands wanted to win by. Given a few reminders by his rider down the stretch, Skippylongstocking completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.82, while Mackman and San Siro finished second and third, respectively. "There's a lot of pressure and you're thinking all different variables, but it worked out great," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. told Oaklawn publicity. "He was very impressive once again." Skippylongstocking earned an incredible 12th graded stakes win Saturday and his third in a row. Bred in Kentucky by Brushy Hill, he is out of the War Chant mare Twinkling. His Preakness Stakes (G1)-winning sire, Exaggerator, stands the 2026 season at Elite Thoroughbreds in Louisiana for a $3,500 fee.