Skippylongstocking edges Poster for second Harlan's Holiday

Skippylongstocking added to his long list of stakes wins on Saturday with a head victory over 3-2 favorite Poster in the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

It was the second Harlan's Holiday success for the six-year-old, who also won the 1 1/16-mile fixture at age three back in 2022.

Slightly cool in the betting after back-to-back poor efforts in the Whitney (G1) and Charles Town Classic (G2), Skippylongstocking showed few signs of rust returning from a four-month layoff. Although trapped behind a wall of rivals approaching the short stretch, the son of Exaggerator found a seam between horses turning for home and ultimately held off Poster, who had made a five-wide bid into contention.

Under Tyler Gaffalione, Skippylongstocking won in a time of 1:43.05 over a fast track and paid $6.80. Poster was 5 1/2 lengths ahead of 26-1 chance Catalytic.

This edition of the Harlan's Holiday was the 10th career stakes win for Skippylongstocking, who is owned by Daniel Alonso and is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. He has also won the Charles Town Classic twice and the Challenger (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs three times.

Other stakes wins include the 2022 West Virginia Derby (G3), 2024 Oaklawn H. (G2), and the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) this past May.

“If the draw’s good, he can win the Pegasus there’s no doubt about it," said Joseph, who is likely to enter Skippylongstocking in next month's Pegasus World Cup (G1) for a fourth time. "This year he ran huge against White Abarrio from a terrible post. If he draws good and gets the right setup, it’s not impossible. We’ll see.”

Earlier in the card, Ms. Bucchero rallied inside rivals to take the $125,000 Sugar Swirl S., a six-furlong dash for fillies and mares.

An allowance winner in her local debut Oct. 24, Ms. Bucchero won by 1 1/2 lengths over Nic's Style, who had been 3-for-3 at Gulfstream. Weakening to third was defending titlist and 6-5 favorite Mystic Lake, a multiple Grade 2 winner riding a four-race win streak into the Sugar Swirl.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Ms. Bucherro sped in 1:09.47 and paid $8.80. She is owned and trained by Diane Morici.

A five-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Bucchero, Ms. Bucchero previously captured the 2024 Willa On the Move S. and 2025 What a Summer S., both at Laurel.