SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With nine winners from his first 22 starters here thus far this summer, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is having himself a whale of a Saratoga meet. But next Friday, his sights will be set on Charles Town, where he’ll send a handful of his troops to compete in stakes, including both defending champion Skippylongstocking and 2023 Wood Memorial winner Lord Miles in the $1 million Charles Town Classic.
Both Skippylongstocking, who went gate to wire to register an easy five-length victory in the 2023 Charles Town Classic, and Lord Miles got in their final tune-ups for the race over a good main track here Friday. Skippylongstocking breezed four furlongs in 48.76 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.63 in company with Weightless. Lord Miles completed the same distance in 50.01 and galloped out in 1:02.26 in tandem with Practically Dark.
“Skippy is not really an overzealous work horse, and I thought today was as good as he’s going to work,” Joseph said. “Coming off this breeze, we’re going back to Charles Town with him with some confidence.”
Skippylongstocking chased runaway winner Arthur’s Ride on the lead before tiring to finish fifth in the Grade 1 Whitney in his last start.
“He chased the best horse that day and it took its toll,” Joseph said. “He’s not a horse that wants to chase a 46 and change like that, and he paid the price.”
Lord Miles is winless in six starts since upsetting the Wood Memorial at odds of 59-1 last year. He is coming off his best effort since running second in the seven-furlong Robert Hilton Memorial a year ago at Charles Town when rallying to be second in an overnight handicap last month at Gulfstream Park.
“He seems to be rounding back to top form,” Joseph said. “I put blinkers on for his last start, and the way he ran was very encouraging. He was about 18 lengths back passing the stands going seven furlongs last year at Charles Town and finished amazing, so the added distance in the Classic should be to his advantage.”
Joseph will have the Ortiz brothers for the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, with Jose on Skippylongstocking and Irad taking the call aboard Lord Miles.
Joseph’s potent Charles Town contingent next week also includes Spirit Wind, winner of the Grade 2 Honorable Miss here earlier in the meet, in the $500,000 Pink Ribbon; Catalytic in the $750,000 Hilton; and both Mystic Lake and Haulin Ice for the Grade 2, $750,000 Charles Town Oaks.
Joseph, who will run Soul of an Angel here next Friday in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, also reported that reigning Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio has continued to jog a mile on a regular basis since returning to his barn following a brief freshening on a farm earlier this summer.
“He’s definitely filled out and put on weight. The chance to let himself down a bit and freshen up did him well,” Joseph said. “The plan is for him to start back galloping next week.”
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