Skippylongstocking likely to make next start in Charles Town Classic

Skippylongstocking will likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic next month at Charles Town, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Thursday.

The 1 1/8-mile race, which is run around three turns, is Aug. 25.

Skippylongstocking, who has been based in South Florida, traveled to Iowa earlier this month and finished a fast-closing second to Giant Game in the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows. Skippylongstocking earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

“He bounced out of it well,” Joseph said. “He shipped to Saratoga from Prairie Meadows and we’ll probably point to the Charles Town Classic, all being well. That looks like a realistic goal.

“He ran a big race. The winner was game. We showed up.”

Skippylongstocking in December won the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream. The earner of $931,185 races for Daniel Alonso.

Joseph now has another older horse of note in his stable in Rombauer, the winner of the Preakness in 2021. Now a 5-year-old, the horse’s last start came when third in the Belmont Stakes.

Rombauer was previously based in Southern California with trainer Michael McCarthy and recently joined Joseph at Gulfstream Park. He’s had two published works at Gulfstream through July 9.

“We’ve had him about a month,” Joseph said Thursday. “So far, he’s been uncomplicated. He’s had two works. The plan is to send him north eventually. He’ll train right now at Gulfstream.”

Joseph has a half-sister and half-brother to Rombauer in training for the horse’s owners, John Fradkin and Diane Fradkin. Alexander Helios, a 3-year-old half-brother to Rombauer, was third in a maiden special weight for the connections last month at Gulfstream.

Long Range Toddy leads feature

Grade 2 winner Long Range Toddy will move back into the overnight ranks for the first time since September 2022 in Sunday’s eighth race at Gulfstream Park.

The conditioned allowance is for 3-year-olds and up over seven furlongs. The field includes Grade 2 winner Brooklyn Strong and 3-year-old stakes winners Zydeceaux and Lightning Tones.

Long Range Toddy, who is a millionaire, has run in five stakes in his last five starts. His best finish was a second by a neck in the Grade 2 Phoenix in October at Keeneland. The horse is making his first start at Gulfstream and first for trainer Victor Barboza Jr. after being based in the Midwest.

“I like the horse – he’s very classy,” Barboza said Friday. “His last several races, it’s been a strong group every time. This is a more easy race. I think it could be a confidence [builder].”

Long Range Toddy last raced in April and contested the pace before finishing ninth in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland. The race has produced a pair of next-out allowance winners at Churchill Downs in Run Classic and Pro Oxidant. As for Long Range Toddy, he’s had a chance to log several works at Gulfstream. Emisael Jaramillo has the mount from post 6 in the field of 7.

“The horse likes seven furlongs and he’s got a good [post] position,” said Barboza.

Long Range Toddy, who is a multiple stakes winner of $1.1 million, is owned by Zenith Racing. He was a Grade 2 winner at 3, in the Rebel at Oaklawn. The horse is now 7.

Lightning Tones enters Sunday’s race off a win at seven furlongs in the $100,000 Carry Back at Gulfstream in June. He also won at the distance in May.

Zydeceaux won the $100,000 Sophomore at seven furlongs in March at Tampa Bay Downs. He’s also made some starts against graded stakes rivals in Florida.

Gangly earned Beyer Speed Figures in the 90s over a span of three races between February and April and a flashback to that form would put him right in the mix Sunday.

Petulante targeting Iselin

Petulante, a multiple winner at Gulfstream Park, is being pointed for the Grade 3, $250,000 Philip H. Iselin Aug. 19 at Monmouth Park, trainer Victor Barboza Jr., said Friday.

The horse is coming off a win in that track’s Grade 3 Salvator Mile last month. Barboza said Petulante was scheduled to work Saturday.

“The horse is in training at Gulfstream,” said Barboza. “He’s the best horse in my barn.”

Petulante was a gutsy, determined winner of the Salvator Mile. He was making both his stakes and two-turn debut in the race. Petulante earned a Beyer of 95. The 4-year-old by Arrogate won his career debut last July at Gulfstream and also captured a first-level allowance over the local strip. He races for Lugamo Racing Stable.

Barboza said his long range goal for the horse is the Breeders’ Cup, with potential options the Dirt Mile or Classic. He said more will be known when the horse moves to 1 1/16 miles for the Iselin.

“He’s a very good horse,” Barboza said. “He’s a strong finisher.”

◗ Barboza said Strong Venezuela, a 2-year-old who debuts in the first race Sunday, gets the name from breeder Orlyana Farm, which has divisions in Venezuela and Florida.