The $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) is Saturday, Jan. 25, at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The race is for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles. usracing.com is publishing profiles of the horses entered.
Skippylongstocking is extremely predictable. Put him in a Grade 3 race and he’s a world-beater, winning four of six with one second. Run him in a Grade 2 and he’s still terrific, going 3-for-5, including the prestigious Oaklawn Handicap. But in a Grade 1 he’s a nobody, winless in nine tries.
Unfortunately for Skippy, the Pegasus World Cup is Grade 1, and it’s been a nightmare twice. After running seventh in 2023, he hit bottom in last year’s Pegasus, eased after overheating.
“He struggled with the heat, partly because he drew post 12 and we sent him hard that day,” said trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., who hopes the 6-year-old’s third Pegasus will be his best. It couldn’t be much worse.
The $3 million earner has been training steadily at Palm Beach Training Center, where his third consecutive 5-furlong breeze was timed in 1:03 on Jan. 10.
“Skippy is doing very good,” Joseph told drf.com. “I thought his Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile [sixth] was a very creditable effort considering the post [13]. Hopefully, it will stay cool and he draws a good post.”
Betting advice: Never a threat in Grade 1 events and doesn’t class up to likeliest winners National Treasure and Locked. Toss.
Post position: 10
Odds: 10-1
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Trainer: Saffie Joseph, Jr.
Owner: Daniel Alonso
Career record: 28-9-3-5
Career earnings: $3,092,985
Last race: Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Santa Anita, Nov. 2, 6th
Top Equibase speed figure: 114
Pedigree: Exaggerator-Twinkling, by War Chant
Age: 6
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker
Notes: Joseph, a 37-year-old native of Barbados, is a third-generation horseman based year-round at Gulfstream Park. Last year was his best ever, when he ranked sixth nationally in earnings ($16.6 million) and third by wins (264) … His highlight was with Soul of an Angel, who went last to first in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) and paid $41.60 … It was Joseph’s fifth Grade 1 trophy, joining the Pennsylvania Derby (2019), Florida Derby (2022), Woody Stephens Stakes (2021) and Carter Handicap (2021).
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