Skippylongstocking Eyes Return in December at Gulfstream

Joseph, D’Angelo in Dogfight for Sunshine Meet Training Title
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $50,000

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Daniel Alonso’s multiple Grade 2 winner Skippylongstocking had his first work since August Friday for a planned return at Gulfstream Park.

The 6-year-old son of Exaggerator breezed three furlongs at Palm Meadows Training Center in :39.30. It was his first work since finishing eighth in the Charles Town Classic (G2) Aug. 22.

“We gave him a little break after his last race,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “In the last race he got the thumps pretty good. He’s doing well. This was his first work back. If all is well, we’ll point toward the [Dec. 20] $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) and then the [Jan. 24] $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1).”

Skippylongstocking has won 11 of 34 starts and more than $3.6 million. His victories include the 2025 Hollywood Gold Cup (G2), 2024 Charles Town Classic (G2) and Oaklawn Handicap (G2), the 2023 Charles Town Classic and 2022 Harlan’s Holiday. Skippylongstocking was also third in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Joseph said he will also point White Abarrio toward defending his 2025 victory in the Pegasus World Cup.

Joseph, D’Angelo in Dogfight for Sunshine Meet Training Title

With eight racing days remaining in the Sunshine Meet, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. finds himself in a dogfight in quest to win his 14th consecutive title at Gulfstream Park. The 38-year-old conditioner leads Joseph D’Angelo, 24-23, following a two-win day Friday.

Joseph and D’Angelo entered Friday’s nine-race card deadlocked at 22 wins apiece. D’Angelo connected with Sheshimaintenance ($4.40) in Race 3, but Joseph came back to saddle three winners -- Cooey ($4.20) in Race 4, Mr Narcissistic ($4.40) in Race 8, and Valiant Honor ($3.20) in Race 9 – to end the day with a two-win lead, 25-23.

Joseph has won the last four Championship Meet titles. The 2025-2026 Championship Meet will start Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27.

In the race for the Sunshine Meet riding title. Miguel Vasquez holds a two-win edge over Edgard Zayas, 32-30.

Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $50,000

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $50,000 Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the popular multi-race wager went unsolved Friday one racing day following a mandatory payout.

The $70,000 Awesome Banner, a highly competitive mile handicap for 3-year-olds and up, will kick off the Rainbow 6 sequence that will span Races 6-11. Bobby Dibona-trained Steppe, who won back-to-back mile races against fellow 3-year-olds before coming up just short against older horses last time out, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite. The son of Sky Mesa will share 122-pound highweight honors with Patrick Biancone-trained Classic of Course, a winner on dirt, turf and Tapeta who is back with 3-year-olds after finishing third against older last time out.

Dibona-trained Nate the Great is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the final leg of the Rainbow 6 sequence, a mile-and-70-yard optional claiming allowance for three-year-olds and up on Tapeta. Nate the Great has distinguished himself on the all-weather surface, finishing 1-2-3 in all 11 tries, including five victories.

In the Rainbow 6, the jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.