Hollywood Gold Cup: Skippylongstocking takes on 7 rivals

Skippylongstocking, an eight-time graded stakes winner and earner of more than $3.5 million, comes west for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. where he’ll look to add to his distinguished resume in the Grade 2, $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup going 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita on Monday.

Skippylongstocking, a 6-year-old horse by Exaggerator, most recently finished third in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on April 19 at Oaklawn. In two previous starts this year, Skippylongstocking won the Challenger Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles at Tampa Bay Downs in March and was third in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) at 1 1/8 miles in January at Gulfstream Park.

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Owned by Daniel Alonso, Skippylongstocking is 31: 10-3-7 with $3,541,610 in earnings. He’ll be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.

The leading local hopes in the lineup include Extensive and Midnight Mammoth.

Extensive, trained by Michael McCarthy, will be making his stakes debut after earning a 99 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form when winning a first-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on April 6. The emerging 4-year-old colt by City of Light is 4: 2-1-1 with $95,800 in earnings for owner Cheyenne Stable. Extensive will have the services of top jockey Flavien Prat.

Midnight Mammoth most recently romped by 5 1/2 lengths in a high-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles April 26 at Santa Anita. Trained by Craig Dollase, Midnight Mammoth in March finished fourth in the GI Santa Anita Handicap, also at 1 1/4 miles. The 6-year-old gelding by Midnight Lute, owned by Jeffrey Sengara, has a record of 35: 8-4-8 with $377,280 in earnings. He’ll have regular rider Armando Ayuso aboard.