VETERAN SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING COMES WEST SEEKING A 9th GRADED STAKES WIN IN THE GRADE II HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP GOING 1 ¼ MILES MONDAY AT SANTA ANITA

By Victor Ryan —-

VETERAN SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING COMES WEST SEEKING A 9th GRADED STAKES WIN IN THE GRADE II HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP GOING 1 ¼ MILES MONDAY AT SANTA ANITA

Infield carnival, beer festival also part of Memorial Day weekend activities

at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, CA (May 21, 2025)— Skippylongstocking, an eight-time graded stakes winner and earner of more than $3.5 million, comes west for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. where he’ll look to add to his distinguished resume in the Grade II, $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup going 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita. The Hollywood Gold Cup is part of an exceptional 11-race card on Memorial Day at The Great Race Place that also includes the GI Shoemaker Mile on turf and the GI Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares on turf.

Skippylongstocking, a 6-year-old horse by Exaggerator, most recently finished third in the GII Oaklawn Handicap going1 1/8 miles on April 19 at Oaklawn. In two previous starts this year, Skippylongstocking won the GIII Challenger Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Tampa Bay Downs in March and was third in the GI Pegasus World Cup at 1 1/8 miles, in January at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by Daniel Alonso, Skippylongstocking is 31: 10-3-7 with $3,541,610 in earnings. He’ll be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.

The leading local hopes in the lineup include Extensive and Midnight Mammoth.

Extensive, trained by Michael McCarthy, will be making his stakes debut after posting a 99 Beyer Speed Figure when winning a first-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on April 6. The emerging 4-year-old colt by City of Light is 4: 2-1-1 with $95,800 in earnings for owner Cheyenne Stable. Extensive will have the services of top jockey Flavien Prat.

Midnight Mammoth most recently romped by 5 ½ lengths in a high-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles on April 26 at Santa Anita. Trained by Craig Dollase, Midnight Mammoth in March finished fourth in the GI Santa Anita Handicap, also at 1 ¼ miles. The 6-year-old gelding by Midnight Lute, owned by Jeffrey Sengara, has a record of 35: 8-4-8 with $377,280 in earnings. He’ll have regular rider Armando Ayuso aboard.

THE GII HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 11 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

Tarantino—Juan Hernandez—122
Packs a Wahlop—Reylu Gutierrez—122
Midnight Mammoth—Armando Ayuso—124
Extensive—Flavien Prat—122
Skippylongstocking—Irad Ortiz Jr.—124
Il Bellator—Geovanni Franco—122
Arrowthegreat—Tiago Pereira—122

First post Monday is at 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and 1/ST TV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.