Skip Away (FL)

Biography

A winner of 16 graded stakes races and four Eclipse Awards — including Horse of the Year in 1998 — Skip Away was one of the most popular and accomplished horses of the 1990s.

Bred in Florida, Skip Away was foaled at Hilmer Schmidt’s Indian Hill Farm. He was bred by Massachusetts native Anna Marie Barnhart. Indian Hill consigned the colt to a 2-year-olds in training sale in Florida, where Carolyn and Sonny Hine paid $30,000 for the son of Skip Trial. A bone chip in one of Skip Away’s knees reduced the sale prize to $22,500 to compensate for the surgery the horse required.

Skip Away showed some promise when he made it to the track as a 2-year-old in 1995. He broke his maiden in his third career start and finished second in both the Cowdin and Remsen that year.

As a 3-year-old, Skip Away won an allowance to start his campaign before finishing third in the Florida Derby. He followed that with a commanding victory in the Blue Grass Stakes to stamp himself as a legitimate contender in the Kentucky Derby. Skip Away, however, seemed to loathe the Churchill Downs surface and finished a disappointing 12th in the Run for the Roses. He then finished second in the Preakness to Louis Quatorze and second in the Belmont to Editor’s Note. Skip Away was sensational during the remainder of his 3-year-old season, winning the Ohio Derby, Haskell Invitational, Woodbine Million Stakes, and Jockey Club Gold Cup (defeating Cigar by a head). He finished the year with a record of 6-2-2 from 12 starts and earnings of $2,699,280 to earn the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Male.

It took Skip Away some time to find his best form as a 4-year-old in 1997. He began the year by finishing second in both the Donn and Gulfstream Park handicaps before getting third in the Texas Mile then second in the Pimlico Special. Skip Away then won the Massachusetts and Suburban handicaps, finished third in the Whitney, and second in both the Philip H. Iselin Handicap and Woodward Stakes. He then romped by six lengths to repeat in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and capped his year with a six-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Hollywood Park. Skip Away concluded his 4-year-old season with a record of 4-5-2 from 11 starts and earnings of $4,089,000 to win the Eclipse Award for Champion Older Male.

Skip Away was at his best as a 5-year-old, winning seven of nine starts, including five Grade 1s. He began the year with a victory in the Donn Handicap and followed with scores in the Gulfstream Park Handicap, Pimlico Special Handicap, Massachusetts Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Philip H. Iselin Handicap, and Woodward Stakes. Including his final two wins as a 4-year-old, Skip Away had a nine-race win streak after the Woodward. The streak came to an end when Skip Away finished third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He finished sixth in his final start, the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Skip Away was named Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male in 1998 and retired with a career record of 18-10-6 from 38 starts and earnings of $9,616,360. At the time of his retirement, Skip Away trailed only Cigar in career earnings.  

In 12 years at stud, Skip Away sired 489 foals, including 21 stakes winners. Skip Away died on May 14, 2010, at the age of 17 at Hopewell Farm in Midway, Kentucky. He is buried at Old Friends Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1996
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1997
Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1998
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1998

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the Classic — 1997

Notable

Won the Massachusetts Handicap — 1997, 1998
Won the Blue Grass Stakes — 1996
Won the Haskell Invitational — 1996
Won the Jockey Club Gold Cup — 1996
Won the Ohio Derby — 1996
Won the Woodbine Million Stakes — 1996
Won the Suburban Handicap — 1997
Won the Donn Handicap — 1998
Won the Gulfstream Park Handicap — 1998
Won the Hollywood Gold Cup — 1998
Won the Philip H. Iselin Handicap — 1998
Won the Pimlico Special Handicap — 1998
Won the Woodward Stakes — 1998

Horse Profile for Skip Away | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information