Skippylongstocking under consideration for Travers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y – After running third in both the Grade 2 Wood Memorial and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes earlier this season, Skippylongstocking got his first graded stakes win when registering a 1 1/2-length victory over the favored We the People in Saturday’s Grade 3 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park. That performance has his connections contemplating a start here in the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga later this month.

“He’s such a hard-trying horse, I’m glad he finally got one of them,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “Obviously, we had been a little ambitious with him earlier in the year, which is why we looked for a little easier spot with him this last time, and it paid off. I believe he definitely turned in his best performance yet on Saturday while also showing he takes after his sire, Exaggerator, and likes a wet track.”

:: DRF's Saratoga headquarters – Stakes schedule, previews, recaps, past performances, and more

Joseph said no decision as to Skippylongstocking’s next start will come for 10 to 12 days, but he added the Travers certainly is under consideration with the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 24 at Parx Racing a second option.

“Obviously, the Travers is going to be a very tough spot,” Joseph said. “He’s kind of a second-tier horse in the division but he’s very consistent, he’s trained well at Saratoga, and the slower surface here should be to his advantage.”