Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Skippylongstocking will head to Stephen Foster off big Beyer
The South Florida-based Skippylongstocking is scheduled to make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Stephen Foster next month at Churchill Downs, according to his trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Skippylongstocking went over $2 million in earnings in his last start, when he captured the Oaklawn Handicap with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 107. It’s the best number an older horse has earned on dirt so far in 2024.
“Skippy’s doing well,” Joseph said. “He had his second work back and right now we’re on target for the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs.”
The 1 1/8-mile race is June 29. Skippylongstocking is currently based at the Palm Meadows training center in South Florida.
“There is a possibility he could ship with our horses to Saratoga in June and do the rest of his work there and go to Churchill, but I haven’t really decided yet,” Joseph said. “It starts to get pretty hot here in the summer in Florida. It’s already hotter than normal. So, it’s a possibility. He really likes to train at Saratoga.”
Skippylongstocking races for Daniel Alonso.
Haulin Ice new to Florida
Haulin Ice, who established herself as one of the top Arkansas-bred fillies in training over the winter at Oaklawn Park, has been purchased privately and is being pointed for the $95,000 Game Face at Gulfstream Park, said new trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
The six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies is June 1.
Haulin Ice defeated opencompany rivals at the distance May 3, taking a first-level allowance at Oaklawn with a careerhigh Beyer of 84. During the course of the meet, the daughter of Coal Front won a maiden special weight and entry-level allowance, both for Arkansasbreds, and is 3 for 5 overall.
Joseph said Haulin Ice’s new ownership is comprised of C2 Racing Stable, Paul Braverman, Miller Racing, and Timothy Pinch.
Portofino leads feature
Portofino owns the best collection of recent Beyers in the eighth race Friday at Gulfstream and if he continues to put up such numbers, he can take down the featured firstlevel allowance.
The five-furlong turf sprint is for 3-year-olds and up and carries an optional-claiming price of $25,000. It drew a field of nine, including Bella Future, a winner of his last two starts, and Abrir Caminos, a six-time winner making his first North American start after being based in his native Chile.
Portofino was second by a neck at this level March 28 at Gulfstream and the Beyer of 88 that he earned is the best lastrace number in the field. It came on the heels of Beyers of 81 and 83 for a respective third-place finish at this level in January and a win over $50,000 starter allowance rivals in December.
“He’s an honest horse, and he runs his race every time,” said trainer Joe Orseno. “He’s always right there.”
Portofino has never been off the board in his eight career starts and he’s won races on both the turf and Tapeta at Gulfstream. The son of Speightster and the stakes-winning mare Love Co races for Robert Cotran.
Portofino will break from post 4 under Edgard Zayas.
“He’ll do whatever you ask him to do,” Orseno said “He’ll sit off the pace if you ask him. He’ll go if we want him to. It looks like to me we’ll probably just ask him to sit off the pace a little.”
Richy could set the pace from post 2. He put up quick fractions in his last start, a fourth-place finish in a first-level allowance sprint moved from turf to Tapeta. Richy is a four-time winner who was Grade 3-placed earlier in his career, in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint. Luca Panici has the mount for trainer James Gulick.
Options for Mattingly
Mattingly, a Gulfstream stakes winner who shipped to Aqueduct and was second by a neck in the $150,000 Paradise Creek last Sunday, has a few different options for his next start, according to trainer Joe Orseno.
The horse is under consideration for the Grade 3, $250,000 Manila for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet June 29. Another option is the $100,000 My Frenchman for 3-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf July 14 at Monmouth Park.
“We’ll let the horse tell us,” said Orseno.
Mattingly set the pace and fought on in the Paradise Creek, and was just edged in the sixfurlong turf race, which went in a quick 1:08.19.
“He ran way too hard to lose,” Orseno said. “He actually wears glue-on shoes – it’s just something we put on him a year ago and he’s happy with them – but he lost a left front shoe in the race. It’s hard to say when a horse’s adrenaline is pumping how much it really affected him. I’d have to say it did hurt him a little.”
Mattingly races for Ironhorse Racing Stable and Harlow Stables.
“He is a really nice horse,” Orseno said. “We expect a nice 3-year-old year with him.”
Mattingly is by Bucchero.