In three-peating in the Challenger Stakes (G3), Skippylongstocking further added his name to the Tampa Bay Downs record books by winning the 1 1/16-mile dirt race March 8 in track record time of 1:41.20.
Stanford had set the prior record of 1:41.75 in taking the 2017 Challenger. Skippylongstocking had posted times of 1:43.12 in capturing the 2024 Challenger and 1:42.52 in the 2023 race.
Saturday's $95,000 Challenger unfolded like a match race with 2024 Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner and 2024 Clark Stakes (G2) runner-up Most Wanted and Skippylongstocking distancing themselves from the remaining two competitors. Skippylongstocking did so after hopping slightly at the start.
Skippylongstocking pressed Most Wanted through splits of :23.89, :47.64, and 1:11:24, poked his head in front in the stretch, and after striking the front with a mile in 1:34.93, pulled away for a 1 1/4-length victory. Coming off a third-place finish in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), he paid $3.20 to win.
"He's an incredible horse. He just keeps showing up and brings his track with him everywhere he runs. He is as consistent as they come," winning rider Tyler Gaffalione said. "He got a little antsy in the gate and stepped back right before they sprung and kind of leaped out of there, but I was able to get him back to himself, and he carried me well throughout.
"I knew Most Wanted was our main concern, but when I got to him at the quarter pole my horse found another gear, and I was fairly confident he was going to get the job done."
There was a gap of 14 3/4 lengths back to third-place finisher Instant Coffee. El Principito was fourth.
The victory improved Skippylongstocking's record to 10-3-6 in 30 starts, elevating his earnings past $3.4 million for owner Daniel Alonso. The 6-year-old Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee is an eight-time winner at either the grade 3 or grade 2 level. He has run second or third in four grade 1s.
"I didn't want to run into Most Wanted in this race, but we had already committed to run. I have a lot of respect for that horse," Joseph said. "But we were full of confidence because 'Skippy' was doing so well. He traveled well, and really laid his head down and finished well.
"Three in a row. ... He has really taken us on a wild ride. It's just so special, and all the glory to God. Hopefully next year, we can come back here and make it four in a row."
Bred in Kentucky by Brushy Hill, Skippylongstocking is a son of Exaggerator out of the War Chant mare Twinkling and was a $37,000 purchase by his owner from the Top Line Sales consignment at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
The 2016 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner, Exaggerator stands for $5,000 at Elite Thoroughbreds in Louisiana.
