Skippy's trainer weighs options

Woodward Stakes winner Skip Away came out of the Grade I $500,000 race at Belmont Park on Saturday in good shape but trainer Sonny Hine has not yet completely committed to his next scheduled engagement in the Oct. 10 Grade I $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup.

That 1 1/4-mile race has been a favorite of Skippy's. The five-year-old son of Skip Trial has won the past two runnings of the event.

In 1996, as a three-year-old, Skippy beat the great Cigar by a head after attending the pace in the race. Last year, Skippy began what has been stretched to a nine-race win-streak with a victory on the way to a Breeders' Cup Classic score at Hollywood Park in November of '97.

If Hine decides to make the third time the charm this year, he will again use the New York race as a prep for a repeat in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 7 at Churchill Downs in Kentucky.

It seems unthinkable that a $1 million race would be used as a "prep" for another race, but, the Breeders' Cup Classic is the championship race of the year and boasts four times the purse at $4 million.

It is certain that Hine does not want to snap the winning streak his gray champion has going and Skippy has all the credentials to win the "preps" as he has all year long.

After defeating the best field of handicap horses assembled this year in the recent Woodward, the Jockey Club Gold Cup should be well within his reach.

Woodward runner-up Gentlemen could come back, although even another super showing by the West's top handicap horse may gain him entrance to a Breeders' Cup race, but it won't be the Classic Skip Away is ticketed for. Connections of the Argentine talent indicate a possible Breeders' Cup Mile start is on his slate.

Sophomore sensation Coronado's Quest, who finished last in the Woodward, most likely won't want to try any more of his elders before early retirement at the end of this year.

It's back to the drawing board for the "other" gray of the Woodward, Free House. A dismal showing in the Woodward, after stalking in a perfect striking position, Free House may have tried to much to quickly after a pair of spectacular victories since his return.

The Bel Air Handicap and Pacific Classic winner needed a win or a good showing for a shot at the Breeders' Cup Classic, since an $800,000 supplemental payment would be required for Free House to participate. It would seem ambitious for the popular Southern California gray to pursue the Classic but if they chose to, then the Jockey Club Gold Cup may be his next start.

The European import Running Stag, who many thought would not beat a horse, finished a workmanlike third to Skip Away and Gentlemen, while beating Free House and Coronado's Quest in the Woodward, may stick around for another go 'round but would still be considered a longshot to make any further impact on the American handicap division. Touch Gold, Awesome Again and Silver Charm still lurk in the shadows.

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