Gulfstream Park press bulletin

From HALLANDALE BEACH, FL, Daniel Alonso’s Skippylongstocking heads toward career start number thirty‑five on Saturday, targeting the $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream Park while chasing a tenth graded triumph and a seventeenth graded placing. By scoring here, the camp hopes to lock down a spot in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) slated for January 24, for example a ticket into that headline event.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. emphasized that with maturity the horse has advanced, highlighting his toughness on dirt in the current era and contrasting that with turf runners that often need lighter conditioning. Reaching age six and pointing to seven underscores Skippy’s attitude and soundness, he said, and the barn remains grateful and convinced there is more to come, for example when a veteran perks up after a freshening.

As an overachiever by Exaggerator, he landed the Harlan’s Holiday late in 2022 near the end of his 3‑year‑old campaign. Entering this year’s one‑and‑one‑sixteenth‑mile renewal for 3‑year‑olds and up, he does so following two below‑par results — seventh in Saratoga’s Whitney (G1) on the second of August and eighth in the Charles Town Classic (G2) on August twenty‑two — which can surface during a form cycle, for example when a horse returns off a gap.

Joseph evaluated those efforts by noting the Whitney functioned as a comeback run; time had been missed, a strong move was made, and he understandably tired, which in context was acceptable. In contrast, the Charles Town performance disappointed because he developed “the thumps,” a diaphragmatic spasm comparable to human hiccups, something he has shown occasionally, for instance as a minor temporary issue.

Morning prep has been bright: two upbeat breezes were logged at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training base in Palm Beach County, for example during routine conditioning moves.

“He’s thriving right now,” Joseph added, explaining that a break was given and all the feedback metrics read positive. Though six rising seven, they feel he’s operating at or near his best, and they want that to be evident on Saturday, for example when a veteran fires after time off.

Skippylongstocking often rebounds after a below‑par outing

Joseph pointed out that this is a familiar pattern: past dips have been followed by a return to form, and the team is quietly confident the real Skippy will appear, for instance with a sharper late kick.

Tyler Gaffalione takes the Harlan’s Holiday assignment after piloting Skippylongstocking to a Challenger (G3) victory at Tampa Bay Downs and, one start prior, to third in last year’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational. Under race conditions, the multiple G2 victor is the third choice at 3‑1 and will carry 126 pounds, five to eight more than his six opponents — a notable weight concession, for example when giving weight can shape the pace scenario.

Joseph also fields Gray V Train Racing LLC’s Hold My Bourbon. The 4‑year‑old ridgling by Anchor Down captured an August allowance at Saratoga, then missed the frame in the Forego (G1) and most recently finished fifth in both the Parx Sprint and a Keeneland allowance, for example when stepping up and back during seasoning.

Irad Ortiz Jr. to partner Hold My Bourbon (6‑1); card also spotlights the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G3) at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3‑year‑olds and up

Flavien Prat, this season’s leading graded‑stakes rider in the U.S., ships to Gulfstream to ride Godolphin’s Poster in the Harlan’s Holiday. Returning from a five‑month break, the homebred captured a mile optional‑claiming event on Churchill Downs’ turf on November 5, for example a confidence builder.

Trainer Eoin Harty said he would not have brought the colt if he lacked complete confidence, stressing that Poster is in great shape and ready to run a big one, for example when a horse signals readiness in a race preview.

Installed at 2‑1 on the morning line, Poster began his career with consecutive turf wins at Ellis Park and Keeneland last year. He then made a successful stakes debut in Aqueduct’s 1 1/8‑mile Remsen (G2) on the main track, the only previous time Prat has been aboard the Munnings‑sired 3‑year‑old, for example a sign of versatility.

After that, he finished third in the Sam Davis at Tampa on February 8 and fourth in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway on March 22 before taking a break from racing, returning with that Churchill victory, for instance as part of a campaign.

Con Compania will debut for trainer Bobby Dibona and owners TCC Stables LLC, Michael Iavarone and Jules Iavarone in the Harlan’s Holiday. The 5‑year‑old Chilean‑bred gelding, listed the second choice at 5‑1, exits a front‑running score in Gulfstream’s one‑mile Mr. Jordan Handicap, for example wiring a field.

Miguel Vasquez climbs aboard the son of Awesome Patriot for a new partnership on Saturday, a fresh combination that can spark improvement, for example when rider and horse click early.

Amy Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Classic of Course, third behind Con Compania in the Oct. 18 Mr. Jordan and then winner of the one‑mile Awesome Banner Handicap three weeks later, enters the Harlan’s Holiday off an even fourth in the Sabal Palm Handicap at a mile and seventy yards on Tapeta, for instance a steady effort on synthetic.

Junior Alvarado, who piloted the Biancone‑trained Layabout to a Tropical Park Derby victory last Saturday, receives his initial call on Classic of Course in the Harlan’s Holiday, for example a rider with momentum.

Rounding out the lineup are JR Ranch, Marquee Bloodstock, High Step Racing and OGMA Investments LLC’s Racing Driver — winner of a one‑mile optional claimer in his Gulfstream return last out — and Tami Bobo’s Catalytic, who has never finished worse than second in nine Gulfstream starts, for instance a model of consistency.