Skippylongstocking: Preakness contender profile
Skippylongstocking wins at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos)
May 19th, 2022
An inconsistent performer earlier in his career, Skippylongstocking started to make headway when recording a sharp Gulfstream allowance win at 1 1/8 miles in early March. He followed with a solid third in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, registering a career-best 107 Brisnet Speed rating, finishing about four lengths behind the winning Mo Donegal.
The bay Kentucky-bred colt has been freshened six weeks in advance of the Preakness, and given his improved finishing kick at longer distances, the 1 3/16-mile trip should benefit him. Listed as a 20-1 outsider on the Preakness morning line, Skippylongstocking still has much to prove from a class perspective, but the late runner has some appeal for the vertical exotics following a pair of encouraging efforts.
Skippylongstocking Speed Figures
Top Brisnet Speed: 107, Wood Memorial
Top Brisnet Late Pace: 111, Wood Memorial
Skippylongstocking Pedigree
Sire: Exaggerator
Skippylongstocking is from the second crop of 2016 Preakness winner Exaggerator, a son of 2007 Preakness winner and two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. Exaggerator has sired a trio of stakes winners, but is still seeking his first graded scorer.
Dam: Twinkling
Skippylongstocking is out of Twinkling, the dam of stakes winner and 2021 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) third-placer Moonlite Strike. She is by 2000 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner War Chant, a son of the great Danzig, but War Chant has little impact upon the Triple Crown as a sire or broodmare sire.
Skippylongstocking Connections
Owner: Daniel Alonso
Purchased for $37,000 as a two-year-old, Skippylongstocking has already earned more than $165,000 for owner Daniel Alonso.
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
The leading trainer by wins at the last three Gulfstream meets, Saffie Joseph Jr. will make his second Preakness start, finishing ninth with NY Traffic in 2020.
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Junior Alvarado teamed with Skippylongstocking three starts ago, and the East Coast-based jockey will make his second Preakness appearance, piloting Zetterholm to a fourth back in 2012.
Learn about all of the Preakness Stakes Contenders and insight from our expert handicappers on the lead up to race day here on TwinSpires.com
