Photo:

Tim Sudduth / Eclipse Sportswire

Multiple graded stakes-winning multimillionaire Skippylongstocking breezed a half-mile in 49.9 seconds Sunday over the Oklahoma dirt training track in preparation for a start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward, a nine-furlong route for 3-year-olds and up on Sept. 28 at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for Daniel Alonso, the 5-year-old Exaggerator horse has banked in excess of $2.9 million through a 26: 9-2-5 record that includes a last-out title defense in the Charles Town Classic (G2) on Aug. 23 at its namesake track.

“Skippy will go to the Woodward at Aqueduct. It’s a good spot for him and he’s doing well at Saratoga, so it’s not too long of a ship,” Joseph Jr. said. “He just seems to keep getting better. He had a good work today and for him it was just perfection. I just hope he can continue the way he is right now.”

Joseph Jr. could also be represented in upcoming stakes action at Aqueduct by C2 Racing Stable and Agave Racing Stable’s Soul of an Angel, who is possible for a return to sprinting in the $250,000 Gallant Bloom (G2), a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares aged 3 and up on September 29.

The 5-year-old Atreides mare was purchased privately earlier this year and won the Ruffian (G2) going a one-turn mile on May 4 on debut for Joseph Jr., easily besting next-out Ogden Phipps (G1) winner Randomized.

Soul of an Angel, who was fifth in the nine-furlong Phipps after a slow start, hit the board in subsequent outings when a close second in the 1 1/16-mile Molly Pitcher (G3) in July at Monmouth Park and a distant third last out in the nine-furlong Personal Ensign (G1) on August 23 at the Spa.

“She is possible to cut back in the Gallant Bloom but it’s not decided just yet,” Joseph Jr. said. “We just want to get her back to one turn. She hasn’t run at one turn since she won the Ruffian.”

Joseph Jr. said Soul of an Angel worked well Saturday while covering three-eighths in 36 seconds flat in company with Practically Dark over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

Dual graded stakes-winner Spirit Wind was also on the Oklahoma tab Saturday, covering three-eighths in 35.66 seconds.

Joseph Jr. indicated the 5-year-old Bahamian Squall mare could target the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) on October 5 at Keeneland.

The Queens M G won a pair of sprint stakes over the summer at Saratoga, taking the Schuylerville on July 11 at odds of 44-1 followed by a nine-length romp at much shorter odds on August 4 in the Adirondack (G3).

The Thousand Words dark bay, a private purchase following a gritty debut win in April at Keeneland, finished a distant fifth last out on August 31 in the seven-furlong Spinaway (G1) after attending the pace over a muddy and sealed Spa track.

Joseph Jr. said he would like to stretch the talented filly out around two turns with the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades (G1)on October 4 at Keeneland a possible landing spot.

“No excuses for her as far as trip last time. The trip was perfect and she came out of it well. The slop was an unknown factor and maybe that was the cause, but time will tell,” Joseph Jr. said. “She’s probably going to go to Keeneland. I’d like to try her two turns and see how she gets on there in the Grade 1.”

Joseph Jr. has another exciting juvenile filly by Thousand Words in Andrea, who is undefeated after a pair of frontrunning romps at Gulfstream Park.

Andrea drew off to win by 6 1/2 lengths sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on July 26 and followed Saturday with a 7 3/4-length score traveling one mile in Hallandale Beach.

“She’s a nice filly. She’s progressive and really going in the right direction,” Joseph Jr. said. “She had a nice debut and we stretched her out yesterday – which was not ideal going from 5 1/2-furlongs to a mile, but there wasn’t any other options. She handled it well.”

Andrea was purchased by Joseph Jr. for $105,000 from the OBS spring sale of 2-year-olds in training where she breezed a furlong in 9.4 seconds.

“She looked like she had speed and class. You never know until you get them back to the track, but since she came in she’s trained well,” Joseph Jr. said. The conditioner said he would wait and see how she comes out of the race before considering future targets for the dark bay.

Joseph Jr. also noted that last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio remains in training at Saratoga and is getting closer to a breeze.