Daniel Alonso’s six-year-old, grade-winning horse Skippy Longstocking effortlessly completed a five-furlong workout Friday morning in preparation for his upcoming race in the $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream Park on December 20. Skippy Longstocking posted the fastest time among four workouts at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility, clocking in at 59.75 seconds.
Trainer Safi Joseph Jr. expressed satisfaction with the horse’s performance, stating, “He went very well. We’re very happy with him,” and confirmed Skippy Longstocking is on track for the Harlan’s Holiday race. The 1 1/16-mile Harlan’s Holiday serves as a preparatory event for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), scheduled for January 24 at Gulfstream. Skippy Longstocking aims to compete in the Pegasus for the fourth consecutive year, with his best finishing position being third place in 2025 behind stablemate White Avario, also trained by Joseph.
Acquired in April 2021 as a two-year-old for $37,000, Skippy Longstocking has secured 11 wins in 34 starts, amassing earnings of $3,684,110. His victories include the 2022 West Virginia Derby (G3), the Harlan’s Holiday, the 2023, 2024, and 2025 Challenger (G3), and the 2023 and 2024 Charlestown Classic (G2). More recent successes include the 2024 Oak Lawn Handicap (G2) and the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) on May 26.
Turning to Saturday’s action, the Rainbow 6 jackpot pool, with 20-cent tickets, is projected to reach $150,000 for the 11-race event at Gulfstream Park. The first race will begin at 12:20 p.m., covering races from six to eleven. The multi-race bet remained unresolved for the third day in a row on Friday, with multiple forced payouts of $13,268.58 recorded on November 29.
Among the key races is Race 9, the $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens Handicap for three-year-olds and older, contested over two miles on turf. Summer Corps is the favorite at 9-5 odds, despite finishing fourth in the two-mile John Forbes Memorial on October 18. Risk Manager, a seven-year-old, is chasing his fourth win of the year and his 12th overall for trainer Mike Maker.
Named after Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens, who spent years wintering at Gulfstream Park, the race commemorates his first stakes victory—the 1955 Display Handicap over 2 1/16 miles.
In Race 8, a 1 1/16-mile all-weather Tapeta event for three-year-olds and up, Light Fury seeks to secure his 16th career win in 56 starts, now trained by Bernardo Campos. The eight-year-old gelding finished fourth in his last six outings at Palm Meadows and was paid $10,000. Longbranch Lou is favored after a win by a length and a half over a mile and 70 yards on Tapeta on November 8.
Race 10, scheduled for October 26 at Aqueduct, focuses on younger horses in a one-mile optional claiming race on the main track. Epic Summer, coming from New York, looks to build on his debut victory with a strong lead. Horses like Move Jesse Move, Bull by the Horns, My Boy Stan, and Yamal have all recorded their first Gulfstream wins here.
For the Rainbow 6, the jackpot pays out only if a single ticket correctly picks all six winners uniquely. On days with no unique winning ticket, 70% of the pool goes to the ticket with the highest earnings, while 30% carries over into the jackpot. The Race 11 finale has a $46,080.49 carryover for the $1 Super Hi-5 wager.
This report was originally published by Paulick Report on December 5, 2025.
—
Fan Take: Skippy Longstocking’s consistent top-level performance highlights the exciting potential and longevity in racehorses, keeping fans invested year after year. The sizable Rainbow 6 jackpot and competitive races at Gulfstream showcase how vibrant and engaging horse racing continues to be, drawing both seasoned bettors and new enthusiasts to the sport.
