Skippylongstocking Looks to Double Up in the Rich Oaklawn Handicap

The race, worth $1,250,000, will be run this Saturday at Oaklawn Park, with First Mission, a grandson of Argentine-bred Forty Marchanta, among the top contenders

Skippylongstocking owns an outstanding résumé / ADAM COGLIANESE

HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas – Skippylongstocking, the defending champion, heads a field of eight older horses entered for Saturday’s $1,250,000 GII Oaklawn H., to be contested over 1 1/8 miles at Oaklawn Park.

The historic race will serve as the highlight of a 12-race program that begins at 12:20 p.m. CT, with the Oaklawn H. slated as race 11 at 6:10 p.m. The card also features a pair of $200,000 Listed events at the same distance: the Bathhouse Row S. for 3-year-olds and the Valley of the Vapors S. for 3-year-old fillies going a mile.

Skippylongstocking will attempt to become the first horse to win back-to-back runnings of the Oaklawn H. since Gay Revoke (Blue Gay) accomplished the feat in 1964 and 1965. Based in Florida with trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., Skippylongstocking captured last year’s edition by two lengths.

A son of Exaggerator, the bay is following a nearly identical schedule to last season. He was sixth in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar Nov. 2, third in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 25 at Gulfstream, and successfully defended his title in the Mar. 8 Challenger S. at Tampa Bay Downs, setting a new track record of 1:41.20 for 1 1/16 miles.

“I think he’s coming into the race in good form,” said Joseph. “He likes to be forwardly placed, so hopefully he breaks well and can get into a good rhythm early. There’s some speed in there that he can sit off if needed, but if he breaks clean, he can be on the lead too.”

A multiple graded stakes winner, Skippylongstocking brings eight stakes wins into Saturday’s contest and is one of four millionaires in the lineup. Joseph will also saddle Alexander Helios (Cairo Prince), last-out winner of the $500,000 GIII Razorback H., where he narrowly defeated Banishing (Ghostzapper). First Mission (Street Sense), a grandson of Argentine-bred Forty Marchanta (Roar), was a close third, beaten only half a length.

The Razorback marked the graded debut for Alexander Helios, a 5-year-old on the rise and a half-brother to 2021 GI Preakness S. hero Rombauer (Twirling Candy). In his final start of 2024, he was second to Hit Show (Candy Ride)—the future Dubai World Cup (G1) winner—in an allowance at Churchill Downs. He opened 2025 with a 2 1/2-length score in a Gulfstream Park allowance, then captured the Razorback in the meet’s fastest time at the distance: 1:41.88.

“He’s clearly stepped forward and ran a big race,” Joseph added. “He beat Banishing, who came back to win the Oaklawn Mile. He’s in great form and I think he’s got a real shot. I’m very happy with how both horses are doing, and I hope they can show their best on Saturday.”

Banishing, owned and trained by David Jacobson, has won four of his last five starts, including the Mar. 29 GIII Oaklawn Mile.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will send out a pair of millionaires in Disarm and Red Route One, both sons of Gun Runner (Candy Ride). Red Route One, third in last year’s Oaklawn H., most recently annexed the GIII Essex H. Mar. 22 over this same track and trip. Disarm returns to stakes company off a Mar. 14 allowance win. Keith Asmussen, who piloted Red Route One to his Essex score, opts to ride Disarm this time.

Also in the field is First Mission, another millionaire, trained by Brad Cox. Winner of the 2024 Essex, the colt returned from a lengthy layoff to finish third in the Razorback. Cox is optimistic about his chances this time: “I think he got a lot out of that last race. He’s trained very well since. This was the target all along, so we feel he’s set up for a big performance.”

Taratino (Pioneerof the Nile) was second to Red Route One in the Essex, beaten 4 1/2 lengths, while Go West Go(Twirling Candy) will make his stakes debut.