Grade 1 winner and track-record setter Skippylongstocking — who has earned over $6 million, won a dozen graded stakes, and recorded 10 triple-digit Beyer speed figures to date — will retire to Amsterdam Two Farm in Middleburgh, NY for 2027, at the conclusion of his racing career. The son of Exaggerator out of the four-time black type-producing War Chant mare Twinkling will stand for $3,500, a fee that could tick upward after November 1, depending on his performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) next month at Keeneland.
Skippylongstocking recorded his signature win in the 2026 edition of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational St. (G1) at 1 1/8m at Gulfstream Park, using his explosive turn of foot to power home to a 1 3/4-length victory over a stacked 12-horse field that included Grade 1 winners White Abarrio, Tappan Street, Full Serrano (Arg), and British Isles.
All of Skippylongstocking’s 12 career stakes wins have come on dirt against graded company, including two consecutive runnings of the Charles Town Classic (G2), as well as the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) with a career high 107 Beyer figure, Hollywood Gold Cup (G2), West Virginia Derby (G3), Essex H. (G3), two runnings of the Harlan’s Holiday St. (G3), and three consecutive runnings of Michelob Ultra Challenger St. (G3), once in track-record time of 1:41.2 for 1 1/16m at Tampa Bay Downs. Among his 11 graded stakes-placings, Skippylongstocking finished third in both the 2022 Belmont Stakes (G1) and the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), the latter behind Cody’s Wish and National Treasure.
Skippylongstocking, who has raced his entire career for owner Daniel Alonso, was also precocious enough to break his maiden going as a 2-year-old at Gulfstream Park by 10 1/2 lengths.
“At nearly 17 hands, Skippylongstocking is about as imposing as a stallion prospect can be,” said Ken Williams, manager of Amsterdam Two. “In a market that values size and scope, I can’t wait for breeders to lay eyes on this absolute mountain of a horse.”
Amsterdam Two plans to show Skippylongstocking on Sunday, October 11, from 4:30-5:00pm outside his barn near Saratoga’s Oklahoma Training Track, across the street from the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed sales grounds.
Plans currently call for Skippylongstocking to conclude his racing career with a start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland next month, followed by an attempted repeat in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) next January. He will run in those events for the partnership of Alonso and Joe Tesiero’s Amsterdam Two Stables.
“Skippy has taken my family and me on the adventure of a lifetime,” said Alonso, who will retain a significant ownership stake in the horse and plans to breed at least 10 mares to him in 2027. “From Florida to California, from Arkansas to West Virginia, Skippy scored wins over six different surfaces at distances from 1 mile to 1 1/4 miles. Now, with the renovated Belmont Park ushering in a new era for New York racing —including purse parity for New York-breds and incredible breeders’ and stallion owners’ awards — it’s a no-brainer to launch Skippy’s stud career in the Empire State.”
“His consistency at the highest level of the game makes Skippylongstocking the kind of horse every trainer dreams of having in his shedrow,” added his trainer, Saffie Joseph, Jr.. “He’s currently on a streak of 32 consecutive starts against graded stakes company, a stat that’s almost inconceivable in the North American handicap division. I can hardly wait for 2030 when I get to train my first batch of Skippy babies.”
Michael Slezak, who will handle marketing for the stallion, said Skippylongstocking’s race record and physical weren’t the only things that drew Amsterdam Two to the horse.
“When you delve into Skippylongstocking’s pedigree, there’s definitely something magical happening with his dam, Twinkling. From her first six foals of racing age, four have earned graded black-type on dirt surfaces, and she’s got a $1 million Not This Time juvenile in the pipeline for Repole Stable,” said Slezak. “What’s more, being by Curlin’s Preakness-winning son Exaggerator, we anticipate Skippylongstocking will be part of the wave of young Curlin sons and grandsons — including Cody’s Wish, Elite Power, Journalism, Golden Tempo, Dornoch, Mage, Muth, and Blazing Sevens — poised to leave an indelible mark on the breed over the next decade.”
Williams added that any contracts for seasons, shares and lifetime breeding rights signed before November 1 will be honored at their current rates, but a Breeders’ Cup win or placing by Skippylongstocking could lead Amsterdam Two to boost those fees.
The deal to bring Skippylongstocking to New York was brokered by Slezak alongside Matt Bowling of Bowling Bloodstock.
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For more information, contact Michael Slezak at 917.455.0693 or [email protected]
