Charles Town roundup: Skippylongstocking wins 15th Classic
Skippylongstocking loves West Virginia.
After taking the 2022 West Virginia Derby (G3), the 4-year-old colt by Exaggerator broke on top and never looked back Friday, taking the field from gate to wire under jockey Tyler Gaffalione to win the 15th running of the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic (G2).
Owned by Daniel Alonso, Skippylongstocking (7-5) was sent off as the favorite and became racing’s newest millionaire with his five-length win.
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“I was surprised to see him on the lead, and the fractions were reasonable enough that it gave you confidence,” winning trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “His ears were going up and down, back and forth, and I just couldn’t believe it.”
Joseph also sent out O’Connor (10-1), who closed from last to finish second. It was another 1 1/2 lengths to Dash Attack (23-1), who held on to finish third. Last year’s runner-up Muad’dib (15-1) was another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth. Call Me Fast (7-1), Giant Game (2-1), Double Crown (36-1), Doppelgänger (8-1) and Perfect Flight (16-1) finished fifth through ninth in that order. Eastern Bay (147-1) was pulled up early and walked off on his own.
Skippylongstocking’s winning time for the 1 1/8 miles around three turns of the wet-fast, main track was 1:51.37 following his early fractions of 24.82, 48.88, 1:14.17 and 1:38.75. He paid $4.80, $3.20 and $2.60; O’Connor $8.00 and $5.20; and Dash Attack $8.20.
It was Skippylongstocking’s second time back in the winner’s circle this year. He finished first March 11 in the Challenger (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. In between he was fifth in the Ben Ali (G3) at Keeneland and second to Giant Game last month in the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3). His record is 19: 6-2-3 with earnings of $1,507,185.
Vahva wins as favorite in Charles Town Oaks
Vahva (7-5) one-upped her dam, 2012 Charles Town Oaks runner-up Holiday Soiree, with a 1 1/4-length victory Friday in the 15th renewal of the Grade 3 race worth $750,000.
Deftly handled by Hall of Fame jockey John Velázquez, Vahva stalked the leaders from third before swinging out and putting in a three-wide bid in the stretch, drawing off to win for trainer Cherie DeVaux.
“I was really confident when I saw where Johnny was going around that first turn,” DeVaux said. “You know, the speed in front, and just sat nice and quietly behind. She’s just such a great filly for us.”
Undervalued Asset (3-1) nosed out long shot and early frontrunner Late Frost (96-1) for second. Metaphysical (81-1) rounded out the superfecta another 6 3/4 lengths behind. Lily Poo (27-1), Imonra (17-1), Interpolate (17-1), Hoosier Philly (2-1), Opus Forty Two (40-1) and Chismosa (10-1) completed the order of finish.
A $280,000 Gun Runner filly owned by Belladonna Racing and partners, Vahva covered the seven furlongs around two turns in 1:25.01 following early fractions of 23.37, 46.82 and 1:11.61. She paid $4.80, $3.00 and $2.60; Undervalued Asset $4.20 and $3.40; and Late Frost $13.80.
The $7,976,942 wagered on Friday night’s card established a new single-card record for the track, shattering the previous mark of $7,179,783 set for the 2021 Classic card.