Skippylongstocking outkicks Midnight Mammoth to win Hollywood Gold Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – Skippylongstocking gutted out a victory in the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup on Monday at Santa Anita, but he left one question unanswered: Is he as effective at a mile and one-quarter as at shorter distances?

Probably not. But against a modest field on Monday, it did not matter.

Skippylongstocking ($3.60), who went off favored, fought off a brave Midnight Mammoth through the stretch to win the $201,000 Gold Cup by three-quarters of a length. It was six lengths back to third place finisher Extensive.

The final time of the Gold Cup was 2:01.64, and Skippylongstocking ran his final quarter-mile in a slow 26.05. The stretch run was a dogfight, as Midnight Mammoth did not give up easily. Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Skippylongstocking, tipped his cap to the runner-up.

“He was fighting back, but my horse was fighting him,” Ortiz said. “He’s a fighter.”

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Skippylongstocking is an 11-time winner of $3,661,610 from 32 starts, and he gave Ortiz and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. their second graded stakes win on the Memorial Day program. A race earlier, they teamed to win the Grade 1 Gamely with Be Your Best.

Skippylongstocking is most effective at distances up to a mile and one-eighth. He won the mile and a quarter Gold Cup on class, and with a perfect trip just off the speed.

“He relaxed beautifully,” Ortiz said, adding that Joseph did not mention concerns about the distance. “For me, a mile and a quarter, I just tried to save some horse."

Skippylongstocking settled in fourth while Packs a Wahlop set the pace of a half-mile in 46.33 seconds and six furlongs in 1:10.87. The pacesetter stopped at the quarter pole and Midnight Mammoth pounced. Skippylongstocking was right behind and went after the leader into the lane.

The top pair drew away from the field in a race that is likely to earn a Beyer Speed Figure of around 100. When Skippylongstocking is on his game at shorter distances, he earns figures in the 105 range.

Midnight Mammoth ran his final quarter-mile in 26.26 seconds to finish a long way in front of Extensive. The order of finish was completed by Tarantino, Il Bellator, Packs a Wahlop, and Arrowthegreat.

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