Joseph plots a different BC path with Skippylongstocking in Woodward

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is taking a different approach to prepare Skippylongstocking for a potential Breeders’ Cup bid.

Last year, after Skippylongstocking won the Charles Town Classic, Joseph opted not to run the horse in the ensuing 10 weeks. Skippylongstocking finished third in the Dirt Mile, 3 3/4 lengths behind Cody’s Wish and National Treasure.

This year, Joseph believes a race during the 10 weeks in between the Charles Town Classic – a race Skippylongstocking won on Aug. 23 – and the Breeders’ Cup might benefit the horse for either a run in the $1 million Dirt Mile or possibly the $7 million Classic.

In Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward Stakes at Aqueduct, Joseph appears to have found an ideal spot in which to run Skippylongstocking. The 1 1/8-mile Woodward only has four horses in the race and Skippylongstocking looks like the lone speed. The race actually drew five, but trainer Bill Mott said he would scratch the undefeated Chilean-bred Kay Army because he wasn’t satisfied with the way the horse came out of a Monday workout in Saratoga.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Skippylongstocking won the Charles Town Classic three weeks after he finished fifth behind Arthur’s Ride in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga, a race that Joseph debated about running in.

“He thrived after the Whitney, doing less with him [training-wise] is better for him,” Joseph said. “We used to always overdo it. To have the spacing, five weeks and then we’ll have five weeks after that, we don’t have to do much, just keep him ticking over.”

Skippylongstocking won the Charles Town Classic, a three-turn, 1 1/8-mile race, in front-running fashion. Some of his other big wins have come when he’s been forwardly placed. In the Woodward, he looks to be the main speed breaking from the rail under Manny Franco.

Masqueparade, shortening up from marathon distances where he’s been trounced by Next, potentially could be a forward factor under Kendrick Carmouche. In June 2022, Masqueparade, then trained by Al Stall Jr., won a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Churchill in gate-to-wire fashion.

“He can be forwardly placed with a little tactical speed, sitting not too far back,” said Rob Atras, who has trained the horse for his last four starts. “I’m not saying we can beat ‘Skippy,’ but we could have first run at him and still run a good race and be second.”

In 2022, the Atras-trained Law Professor finished second in the Woodward to loose-on-the-lead Life Is Good, who was the 1-20 favorite.

Life Is Good was trained by Todd Pletcher, who, on Saturday sends out Crupi and Tapit Trice in search of a fifth Woodward victory. Crupi rallied from last to win the Grade 2 Suburban at Saratoga in June.

He then finished second to Next in the Grade 2 Brooklyn at Aqueduct in July and was second to Arthur’s Ride in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 3 at Saratoga.

After those three races, Pletcher opted to skip the Jockey Club Gold Cup and freshen up Crupi for this spot and then, potentially, the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Tapit Trice came off an 11-month layoff in July to win the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup from a relatively close-up position. Sent off the second choice in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Tapit Trice appeared to be sitting a perfect spot behind dueling leaders but finished fourth, 6 3/4 lengths behind Highland Falls.

“I thought we had a beautiful setup, a great trip. It looked like he was starting to move and he kind of just ran evenly down the lane,” Pletcher said.

Irad Ortiz Jr. had ridden both horses in their last three starts, but opted to ride Crupi on Saturday. Dylan Davis has the call on Tapit Trice.

The Woodward goes as race 4 on a 12-race card that begins at 12:05 and includes the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, the Grade 3, $250,000 Vosburgh, and the Grade 2, $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.