Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner Skippylongstocking will target a 13th graded stakes victory in the $350,000 Monmouth Cup (G3) during the July 18 Haskell card at Monmouth Park, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said on the June 22 episode of BloodHorse Monday.
Daniel Alonso's son of Exaggerator had his first recorded work since a runner-up finish in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) May 1 at Churchill Downs, covering 3 furlongs in :38.90 at Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida. Joseph said he will likely work back in Florida this weekend before shipping to Joseph's string at Saratoga Race Course, where he will finish his preparations for the Monmouth Cup.
Despite being in his 7-year-old season, the veteran runner has appeared to be in career-best form since returning from a four-month layoff in December. In the winter at Gulfstream Park, he captured the Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) and Pegasus World Cup (G1) before shipping to Oaklawn Park to take the March 21 Essex Handicap (G3). He was beaten just a neck by Corporate Power in the Alysheba with grade 1 winners Baeza, East Avenue, and Tappan Street in his rearview mirror.
"I thought it was a gallant effort," Joseph said of the Alysheba. "The first turn he had to take back a little bit and he was a little compromised after that. But look, he got beat on the day."
With 14 victories in 38 starts, Skippylongstocking has earned $5,893,650 in purses, a strong return on his $37,000 purchase out of the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Video
