Skippylongstocking achieved the glory that had eluded him and was crowned in a historic Pegasus World Cup

In his fourth attempt in the race, he bested White Abarrio for a Saffie Joseph Jr. 1-2 finish; the Argentine Full Serrano delivered a meritorious performance and finished in third place

Skippylongstocking in his most important hour / ADAM COGLIANESE

HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida (Special for Turf Diario).— They say horse racing always offers a rematch, but what Skippylongstocking did this Saturday at Gulfstream Park was much more than that: it was an act of poetic justice. In his fourth consecutive appearance in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1)—an unprecedented feat in the modern era—Saffie Joseph Jr.’s pupil finally tasted glory by claiming the $3,000,000 centerpiece, defeating his stablemate and defending champion White Abarrio (Race Day) by 1 3/4 lengths in a formidable 1-2 finish for their trainer.

The tenth edition of the million-dollar festival lowered its curtain with a performance that will be remembered for the grit of its protagonists. The son of Exaggerator, carrying the colors of Daniel Alonso, arrived at the date as a 7-year-old and more relevant than ever. After failing in three previous attempts (seventh in 2023, a DNF in 2024, and third last year), the bay horse found in Tyler Gaffalione’s hands the necessary composure to wait for his moment and unleash a racing fury that stopped the clock at 1m48s49/100 for the 1,800 meters.

The race unfolded at a frantic pace from the jump. The favorite Disco Time (Not This Time) went out to challenge the wind with fractions of 22s25/100 and 46s9/100, closely followed by the Argentine Full Serrano (Full Mast) and Captain Cook (Practical Joke). Meanwhile, White Abarrio, returning from a long layoff and surrounded by doubts regarding his fitness, began to gain ground on the outside at the final turn with a champion’s stride, taking command upon entering the stretch.

For a moment, it seemed the gray would achieve the feat of a repeat victory, but Skippylongstocking had other plans.Gaffalione threaded the veteran through horses in a masterful maneuver and, once he found clear running room, the bay "found a gear we had never seen before," in the words of his owner.

In the final 200 meters, the winner's superiority was evident, leaving White Abarrio in a meritorious second place and Full Serrano completing the podium 5 1/2 lengths back, delivering an outstanding performance that confirms him as a Class A individual.

“It’s incredible. At 7 years old, he was better than ever,” an emotional Saffie Joseph Jr. said, the big winner of the afternoon. “After the Harlan’s Holiday, the path was either victory or retirement. He decided to stay to become a champion. I’m proud of both, because what White Abarrio did after his inactivity was phenomenal.”

Tyler Gaffalione, for his part, highlighted his mount's obedience: “Saffie asked me to be patient and trust his ability.When I asked him for more in the stretch, he responded like the great horse he is. He deserved this G1 more than anyone.”

With this victory, Skippylongstocking not only bolstered his bank account—surpassing $5 million in earnings—but also secured a direct "Win and You’re In" berth for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in October at Keeneland.

The flip side of the coin was the disappointment for the Brad Cox team. The favorite Disco Time paid dearly for the initial effort and finished eighth, while Tappan Street (Into Mischief)—winner of the Florida Derby (G1) over Sovereignty (Into Mischief) and heavily backed in the wagering—was never a factor and trailed the field in last place.The Gulfstream wire handed down its verdict and consecrated the horse that never gave up, proving that in turf,