Charles Town: Skippylongstocking is in Classic; 10 are in Oaks

Defending champion Skippylongstocking headlines a field of 10 in the 16th running of the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic on Friday night. 

Owned by Daniel Alonso and trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Skippylongstocking took the 2023 renewal of the Classic by five lengths in gate-to-wire fashion. Since his Classic triumph, the son of Exaggerator has added wins in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in Arkansas and the Challenger Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs along with third-place efforts in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the Stephen Foster (G1). Skippylongstocking is exiting a fifth-place finish in the Whitney Stakes (G1). The 5-year-old will look to join Researcher, Imperative and Art Collector as two-time winners of the Classic.

Click here for Charles Town entries and results.

“We thought he ran a pretty good race in the Stephen Foster, so we wanted to give him a try at Saratoga,” Joseph said of his horse’s effort in the Whitney. “We always had this race in our minds after how well he ran last year, but he had to give us every right sign. He’s come out of the race super, and I feel like he’s sitting on a big, big effort.”

Joseph also will send out Lord Miles, who took down the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct last year before finishing a fast-closing second to Damon’s Mound in the Robert Hilton Memorial on last year’s Charles Town Classic undercard.

“I feel like he’s running into form,” Joseph said. “He liked the track last year at a distance that was a bit short. We put the blinkers back on last time, and we feel like he’s rounding back into form, and everything’s aligning for him to run a big race.”

Two-time Charles Town Classic-winning trainer Bill Mott will be represented by Bendoog. The son of top sire Gun Runner began his career in Dubai before coming stateside and joining Mott’s stable. He is coming off of a runner-up effort in the Suburban (G2) at Saratoga.

Charles Town-based conditioner Jeff Runco also has two Charles Town Classic wins on his résumé. He sends out Coastal Mission in this year’s renewal. The West Virginia-bred son of Great Notion has kept top company throughout 2024, and Runco says all has gone according to plan for his charge.

“It was late last year when we started thinking about how to get to the Classic,” Runco said. “With these kind of horses, you have to plan things out well in advance, and you hope it all works out. It has worked out so far. He’s ready to go. I was glad to get the extra time after the race at Aqueduct, because he needed it to get him ready for this race. He’s going to need a good trip and the right kind of ride. It’s a pretty even, solid race, so you have to have a good break and get a solid position. He’s been training fantastic. I think he’s got a really good chance.”

Warrior Johny, like Skippylongstocking, is wheeling back in the Classic after contesting the Whitney. His trainer Phil Bauer is happy with what he’s seen since that effort.

“The horse is training superb and came out of the Whitney really well,” Bauer said. “So we figured why not? We were originally deciding between the Whitney and the Classic, and since he didn’t really run in the Whitney, we figured we’d give it a shot. The start has been his Achilles heel. He doesn’t really have a quick first step out of the gate, but the steps right after that are good. Joel (Rosario) knows the horse, and he’ll be there for him at the finish.”

This year’s Kentucky Derby and Oaks (G1) winning trainer Ken McPeek will be represented by Frosted Departure. The son of Frosted is coming off a near lifetime-best effort in the Deputed Testamony Stakes at Laurel Park. Trainer Gary Scherer sends out Velocitor off a series of solid efforts in the Midwest. Piroli, Komorebino Omoide and Double Crown round out the field.

The Charles Town Classic is scheduled as race 11 on the card with a post time of 10:20 p.m. EDT.

10 will go in Charles Town Oaks

A competitive field of 10 with one alternate is set to go in this year’s newly upgraded $750,000 Charles Town Oaks (G2), still the richest 3-year-old fillies sprint in North America.

My Mane Squeeze for trainer Mike Maker took the Eight Belles (G2) on Kentucky Oaks day when she defeated Charles Town Oaks rival Impel for Brad Cox. My Mane Squeeze is coming off of a third-place effort in the Test (G1) at Saratoga, and Impel exits a third-place finish in the Indiana Oaks (G3). Luis Sáez has the call on My Mane Squeeze, while Florent Géroux will be aboard Impel.

Joseph has a pair of Oaks entrants in Haulin Ice and Mystic Lake. Haulin Ice is coming off of a breakout performance in the Azalea at Gulfstream Park. The Arkansas-bred daughter of Coal Front stretched out to the Oaks distance of seven furlongs for the first time and responded with a 9 1/2-length score. Joseph believes they unlocked something in that start.

“We stretched her out and decided to take her back off of the pace,” he said. “We think that’s how she wants to run her races. She ran really well that day. After that race we immediately targeted the Oaks.”

While Haulin Ice will likely be sitting off of the pace, Joseph’s other filly will likely be among the pacesetters. Mystic Lake has been in front after quarter-mile in her last nine races. She will have the services of Charles Town Classic-winning jockey Mike Smith.

“Having Mike Smith speaks for itself. He’s one of the best to ever do it, and he’s still at the top of his game,” Joseph said. “We’re thankful he’s making the trip. Mystic Lake has one way to go. ... Just get to the front and see how far they can take them.”

While neither is as accomplished as the four fillies already mentioned, both Princess Madison for Bauer and Roswell for Mott have the feel of up-and-comers in the 3-year-old fillies division. Both exit the same July 19 allowance race at Saratoga, where Princess Madison got the better of Roswell by three-quarters of a length. In that race Princess Madison earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form, the best last-out number in the Oaks field. That performance gave Bauer confidence that his filly is ready for the step-up in class.

“We’re excited to try her,” Bauer said. “You never know about the different numbers, but nevertheless I was really impressed with her last race. She’s training super. Based on everything she’s shown us, she should be able to break sharp and put herself in a good position to have a shot.”

Charles Town-based trainer Cyndy McKee will send out an intriguing hometown hopeful in Overnight Pow Wow. The filly is a full-sister to 2018 Charles Town Oaks winner Late Night Pow Wow and 2022 Charles Town Classic runner-up Muad’dib, both bred by McKee’s late husband John. Out of accomplished broodmare Holy Pow Wow, Overnight Pow Wow already has lived up to her stellar bloodlines with multiple wins in West Virginia-restricted stakes company. She is coming off of a career-best effort in the Sylvia Bishop Memorial, but this will be her stiffest test to date.

“She was a little slower to come around, because I babied her,” McKee said. “She’s my girl. She’s really coming into her own now.”

Sing a Little Song for Ian Wilkes, Nay V Belle for trainer Greg Foley and jockey Frankie Dettori, and Deviletta for Steve Asmussen round out the field. Vincey Girl for Jose D’Angelo is the lone runner on the also-eligible list.

The Charles Town Oaks is scheduled as race 10 with a post time of 9:40 p.m. EDT.