Skinner won for the first time since his maiden victory in February 2023 with a gritty score in the $100,000 Native Diver Stakes (G3) Nov. 23 at Del Mar.
Trained by John Shirreffs for C R K Stable, Skinner was making just his second start as a 4-year-old after receiving a lengthy time off from the races. After finishing second in his comeback race, a 6 1/2-furlong allowance Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park, the son of Curlin showed no signs of rust with his bold, come-from-behind victory over grade 2-placed Tarantino and grade 1 winner Mixto in the Native Diver.
Trailing the field early alongside the Bob Baffert-trained Ultra Power, Skinner traveled comfortably under jockey Hector Berrios behind fractions of :23.15, :46.15, and 1:10.92. While Tarantino and Mixto duked it out on the front end, Skinner was cued to action past the three-furlong marker, splitting horses and taking dead aim on the pacesetters. Angled out three-wide turning for home, Skinner wore down the battling duo late and pulled clear for a length victory.
"The last time I worked the horse, I felt very, very good. I noticed a different horse (today)," Berrios said. "Last time, I needed to know him, but now that I know the horse, I follow him a little far.
"I asked him to move and he responded. I liked it today. I tried to weigh (my options) in the middle (of the race). He moved in the straight and he responded. I noticed, when we got to the front, he was looking around a little, he was watching the other horses. But he is much better; maybe he finally is more comfortable."
Skinner ($9) was timed in 1:48.95 for the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track.
"When you looked at the PPs, there was a lot of speed in the race," Shirreffs said. "Hector did a great job. He didn't let him drop back too far. He hustled a little out of the gate, then he got a nice position and he waited. He crept up and then he went to riding him."
Tarantino, a 13-1 shot, finished a head better than Pacific Classic (G1) winner Mixto.
A $510,000 purchase at the 2022 Ocala Breeders' Sale Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Skinner boosted his earnings to $377,300 with his first black-type win. The Stonestreet-bred colt, who is 2-for-12 lifetime, also has placed in four graded stakes, including the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at 3 and the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at 2. He was runner-up in last year's Native Diver.
