Stakes Advance – Oaklawn Handicap
At 0h58, on April 19, 2025 • By Oaklawn Park
Defending champion Skippylongstocking is among eight entrants in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Oaklawn.
The Oaklawn Handicap headlines a 12-race card that begins at 12:20 p.m. CDT. Probable post time for the Oaklawn Handicap, the 11th race, is 6:10 p.m. The program also features the $200,000 Bathhouse Row (Race 6) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles and the $200,000 Valley of the Vapors (Race 10) for 3-year-old fillies at one mile.
Skippylongstocking is bidding to become the first horse since Gay Revoke (1964 and 1965) to win consecutive runnings of the Oaklawn Handicap. Skippylongstocking was a sharp two-length winner of last year’s edition for Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Skippylongstocking’s three starts prior to the 2024 Oaklawn Handicap were the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the Challenger Stakes. He followed the same path in 2025, finishing sixth in the $1 million Dirt Mile Nov. 2 at Del Mar, third in the $3 million Pegasus miles Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park and won Tampa Bay Downs’ $125,000 Challenger for the second consecutive year, when he set a track record for 1 1/16 miles (1:41.20) March 8.
“I think he’s coming in in good form,” Joseph said. “I expect a good run, hopefully. I do think he likes to be forwardly placed. Hopefully, he breaks well from there and puts himself in a forward position. There’s some speed in there that he can stalk if he needs to. If he broke well enough, he can lead, also.”
Skippylongstocking is an eight-time stakes winner and one of four millionaires entered in the Oaklawn Handicap. Joseph will also send out Alexander Helios, who exits a head victory over Banishing in the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 23 at Oaklawn. First Mission finished another neck farther back in third.
