Grade 1 winner and track-record-setter Skippylongstocking will retire from racing to stand at Amsterdam Two Farm near Middleburgh, N.Y., for 2027, at the conclusion of his racing career, the farm announced Oct. 2.
The 7-year-old son of Exaggerator out of the four-time black type-producing War Chant mare Twinkling will stand for $3,500, a fee that could be adjusted after Nov. 1, depending on his performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Raced by Daniel Alonso with trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., Skippylongstocking recorded his signature win in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park, using his explosive turn of foot to power home to a 1 3/4-length victory over grade 1 winners White Abarrio , Tappan Street , and Full Serrano, and subsequent grade 1 winner British Isles.
All of Skippylongstocking's 12 career stakes wins were on dirt against graded company, including consecutive runnings of the Charles Town Classic Stakes (G2) in 2023-24; the 2024 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) with a career-high 116 Equibase Speed Figure; 2025 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G2); 2022 West Virginia Derby (G3); 2026 Essex Handicap (G3); the Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) twice in 2022 and 2025; and three consecutive runnings of Challenger Stakes (G3) in 2023-25, with his 2025 performance setting a track record of 1:41.2 for 1 1/16 miles at Tampa Bay Downs. Among his 11 graded stakes placings, Skippylongstocking finished third in the 2022 Belmont Stakes (G1) and the 2023 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), the latter behind Cody's Wish and National Treasure .
"At nearly 17 hands, Skippylongstocking is about as imposing as a stallion prospect can be," said Ken Williams, manager of Amsterdam Two. "In a market that values size and scope, I can't wait for breeders to lay eyes on this absolute mountain of a horse."
Williams added that any contracts for seasons, shares, and lifetime breeding rights signed before Nov. 1 will be honored at their current rates.
Amsterdam Two plans to show Skippylongstocking from 4:30-5 p.m., Oct. 11, outside his barn near Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma Training Track.
The plan for Skippylongstocking is to compete in the Breeders' Cup Classic and then attempt a repeat win in the Pegasus World Cup in January. He will run in those events for the partnership of Alonso and Joe Tesiero's Amsterdam Two Stables.
"Skippy has taken my family and me on the adventure of a lifetime," said Alonso, who will retain a significant ownership stake in the horse and plans to breed at least 10 mares to him in 2027. "From Florida to California, from Arkansas to West Virginia, Skippy scored wins over six different surfaces at distances from 1 mile to 1 1/4 miles. Now, with the renovated Belmont Park ushering in a new era for New York racing—including purse parity for New York-breds and incredible breeders' and stallion owners' awards—it's a no-brainer to launch Skippy's stud career in the Empire State."
"His consistency at the highest level of the game makes Skippylongstocking the kind of horse every trainer dreams of having in his shedrow," added Joseph. "He's currently on a streak of 32 consecutive starts against graded stakes company, a stat that's almost inconceivable in the North American handicap division. I can hardly wait for 2030 when I get to train my first batch of Skippy babies."
Michael Slezak, who brokered the stallion deal with Matt Bowling of Bowling Bloodstock and will handle marketing for the stallion, said Skippylongstocking's race record and physical weren't the only things that drew Amsterdam Two to the horse.
"When you delve into Skippylongstocking's pedigree, there's definitely something magical happening with his dam, Twinkling. From her first six foals of racing age, four have earned graded black-type on dirt surfaces, and she's got a $1 million Not This Time juvenile in the pipeline for Repole Stable," Slezak said. "What's more, being by Curlin's Preakness-winning son Exaggerator, we anticipate Skippylongstocking will be part of the wave of young Curlin sons and grandsons poised to leave an indelible mark on the breed over the next decade."
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
