(UPI) – Dec. 22 (UPI) – Skippylongstocking, Wolfie’s Dynaghost and Rattle N Roll landed a 1-2-3 combination for old guys in weekend horse racing, while in the 2-year-old division, two more names joined the Kentucky Derby scorecard.
More in a moment, but first, this news tidbit: Santa Anita has pushed back its traditional Dec. 26 Opening Day to Sunday because of predicted heavy rain. The Boxing Day opener is one of the high points of the holiday racing season and, judging by the entries, it will be worth the wait.
That’s the weather. Now, back to the sports:
Classic / Dirt Mile
Sure, he’s 6, about to turn 7, but Skippylongstocking sure didn’t show it in Saturday’s $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream Park.
The Exaggerator gelding stalked the pace, racing in third or fourth position until the favorite, Poster, half his age, surged to the front. Then, jockey Tyler Gaffalione called on the veteran and he closed the gap and won the duel to the wire by a head.
The closest rival, Catalytic, was 5 1/2 lengths farther back as Skippylongstocking finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.05.
The victory was redemption for Skippylongstocking, who had suffered two straight humiliating defeats. It also was a ticket to Gulfstream’s signature race for older horses, the $3 Million Grade I Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 24. “If the draw’s good, he can win the Pegasus. There’s no doubt about it,” Joseph said.
On Saturday at Oaklawn Park, 6-year-old international traveler Rattle N Roll traveled to Arkansas and rolled to a last-to-first win in the $150,000 Tinsel Stakes.
The entire son of Connect needed little encouragement from Jockey Joel Rosario to pick things up around the turn and move into contention. He then drew clear to win by 2 lengths over early leader Willy D’s.
Rattle N Roll ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.76 to boost the stock of the geezer demographic.
Also: Not This Boy won Saturday’s $100,000 Tenacious Stakes at Fair Grounds, Encino took Sunday’s $250,000 Prairie Bayou on the Turfway Park all-weather and Post Time won Saturday’s $100,000 Robert T. Manfusco Stakes at Laurel Park.
Distaff / Dirt Mile
Caitlinhergrtness asserted her greatness in the stretch run of Sunday’s $250,000 My Charmer Stakes on the Turfway Park all-weather course, blowing by rivals with a seven-wide move to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 63-1 shot Trial.
The 4-year-old Omaha Beach filly finished the 1 mile in 1:36.74 with Flavien Prat up for trainer Kevin Attard. The 2024 King’s Plate winner also has been first or second in five graded stakes on the Woodbine all-weather.
Also: Speed Shopper won Saturday’s $125,000 Florence Stakes at Turfway and Complexity Jame took Saturday’s $100,000 Carousel Stakes at Laurel Park.
Turf
Skippylongstocking wasn’t the only champion of the older crowd Saturday at Gulfstream Park. In the very next race, Wolfie’s Dynaghost, age 7 and about to turn 8, led throughout the 1 1/8 miles of the $200,000 Grade III Ft. Lauderdale Stakes and won by 3/4 length. With Irad Ortiz Jr. up for trainer Bryan Lynch, the old vet stopped the timer at 1:43.42 — a course record.
The Ghostzapper gelding, out of the Dynaformer mare Dynaire, notched his third straight win and fourth from his last five starts. Overall, he’s won 14 of 32 starts and banked more than $1.3 million.
Also: Idratherbeblessed won Saturday’s $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial at Fair Grounds.
Filly & Mare Turf
Crevalle d’Oro closed relentlessly in Saturday’s $150,000 Suwannee River Stakes and nailed the favorite, Movin’ On Up, in the final strides to win by a head.
Turf Sprint
Reef Runner, last seen finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, did his best running in deep stretch in Saturday’s $125,000 Janus Stakes at Gulfstream Park, outfinishing And Uwish by 1 length for the win.
Sprint
Joe Shiesty worked quickly to the lead in Sunday’s $250,000 Holiday Cheer Stakes at Turfway Park, was shadowed all the way home by the favorite, Howard Wolowitz, and won by a head over that rival.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Ms. Bucchero won Saturday’s $125,000 Sugar Swirl for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park, Mink’s Palace triumphed in Sunday’s $250,000 Holiday Inaugural at Turfway Park. and Jersey Pearl won Sunday’s $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
The Road to the Roses
Add the names Chip Honcho and Express Kid to the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” leaderboard. It’s a long shot that either will be loaded into that special, 20-stall starting gate on the first Saturday in May, but they had their moment in the sun, or the floodlight, Saturday. Chip Honcho, a Connect colt trained by Steve Asmussen, pressed the pace set by Ohio-bred Crown the Buckeye in the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds, gradually cut into the leader’s margin through the stretch and won by 3/4 length. The favorite, Liberty National, also caught the pacesetter in the final strides to get place money.
A few hours later, Express Kid launched out of the Remington Park gate at the start of the $300,000 Springboard Mile and never stopped. At the finish, the Bodexpress colt left 10 rivals well in his wake.
The Path to the Oaks
Hit Parade won a stretch battle by a head over Luv Your Neighbor in Saturday’s $100,000 Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds. The Gary & Mary West homebred Street Sense filly was never far off the lead under the command of Luis Saez and ran 1 mile and 70 yards in 1:42.97.
At Remington Park, even-money favorite Not a Lady stalked pacesetter Alisal early in Saturday’s $75,000 Toby Keith Stakes, dueled into the stretch and drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths over that foe.
Around the world, around the clock
Dubai
Things really heated up on Festive Friday in the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan with three important races. The Entisar Stakes and the Group 2 Maktoum Mile saw potential candidates for World Cup night, either for the Group 1 World Cup itself or for the Group 2 Godolphin Mile on the dirt. Three of Godolphin’s fine turf runners finished 1-2-3 in the Group 2 Al Rashidiya, with Opera Ballo finishing up his 3-year-old season with an indication he’s set to blossom. Heart of Honor, who was beaten just a nose in the Group 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes on Nov. 15, finished third. Cavallerizzo, who relegated Cavallerizzo to second in the Grade 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes on Nov. 15, finished third.
Japan
Cavallerizzo got room inside rivals turning for home in Sunday’s Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at Hanshin Racecourse, caught pacesetter Diamond Knot and won by 3/4 length over that rival. Admire Quads, who relegated Cavallerizzo to second in the Grade 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes on Nov. 15, finished third.
Fuente: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/old-guys-rule-weekend-horse-112406094.html