After a Triple Crown season that provided plenty of excitement and three different Winners of the signature races, action in the 3-year-old division heats up again Saturday at the Jersey Shore as Monmouth Park hosts the $1 million dollar, Grade 1 Haskell Stakes.
The 56th edition of the Haskell drew a field of eight for the 1 1/8-mile race. Here is a look at the runners:
1. GEAUX ROCKET RIDE [ML 9-2] Jockey: Mike Smith. Trainer: Richard Mandella. This California shipper will be making his first start away form his his home track at Santa Anita. The Hall of Fame trainer rarely, if ever, ships a horse to a marquee race if he doesn’t think he has a chance to Win it, and based on speed figures GEAUX ROCKET RIDE is right there with the favorites. Big Money Mike Smith will be in the irons for the first time in the Haskell.
2. AWESOME STRONG [ML 30-1] Jockey: Jose Batista. Trainer: Jorge Delgado. After starting his career with four consecutive Wins at Gulfstream Park in 2022 – including three restricted stakes races, he did not race for over seven months until he returned June 14th to make his 3-year-old debut in a six-furlong allowance-optional claiming race at Delaware Park, where he never threatened and finished 5th of six as the 2-1 favorite. Since he’s made four of his career five starts in sprint races, AWESOME STRONG could put some early pressure on ARABIAN KNIGHT if Batista is aggressive coming out of the gate. Know him early.
3. SALUTE THE STARS [ML 8-1] Jockey: Joel Rosario. Trainer: Brad Cox. This one boosted his best Speed Figure from 98 in his 3-year-old debut May 14th at Churchill Downs to 104 in his Victory in the Pegasus Stakes, which places him in the same range as leading Haskell Win contenders. He has yet to run a bad race in his young career despite getting off to poor starts in two of his four races, including the Pegasus. He’ll need to at least match that 104 figure in Saturday’s race in order to score the upset or at least fill out the exacta, and that’s certainly not out of the question, although the projected lack of pace works against him.
4. MAGE [ML 3-1] Jockey: Javier Castellano. Trainer: Gustavo Delgado. The Kentucky Derby Winner could not back up his breakthrough Win at Churchill Downs with a subsequent Preakness Stakes Victory, but it was for no lack of trying as he closed once again in the stretch but settled for 3rd at Pimlico. As a come-from-behind horse he’s dependent on a fast early pace to set up his rally. That may not materialize in Saturday’s Haskell. It will be interesting to see if Hall of Famer Castellano positions MAGE closer than usual to the projected pacesetter through the first half-mile or so to give his mount the best chance at Winning.
5. TAPIT TRICE [ML 3-1] Jockey: Luis Saez. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. He was the 9-2 second betting choice in the Kentucky Derby after winning four races in a row dating back to December 2022 and capturing both the Tampa Bay Derby and the Bluegrass Stakes. After a less-than-ideal tripin the Derby he finished a nonthreatening 7th behind MAGE. Suffice to say that some of the shine has faded on this colt’s reputation, and the betting public might shift their attention and dollars Saturday to some of the less-heralded Haskell runners with more upside, which could make TAPIT TRICE a mild overlay. He’ll need to regain his early 2023 form and also overcome a projected modest pace in order to secure his second Grade 1 Win (after the Blue Grass) and re-establish himself within the top echelon of 3-year-olds heading into late summer and fall.
6. HOWGREATISNATE [ML 20-1] Jockey: Paco Lopez. Trainer: Elizabeth Dobles. This gelding enters the Haskell having made his two most recent starts on the main track at Monmouth, taking the one-mile and 70-yard Long Branch Stakes by a head May 13th and then finishing a decent 3rd in the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus Stakes June 17th. He’s a longshot Win candidate in the Haskell based on speed figures, his modest pedigree, and the company he’s kept so far, but he has a chance to fill out the Trifecta or Superfecta at a nice price if he repeats his Pegasus effort and a couple of the main contenders fail to fire.
7. EXTRA ANEJO [ML 5-1] Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione. Trainer: Steve Asmussen. During last fall’s Keeneland meet he debuted in a Maiden race held at seven furlongs and romped by 9 ½ lengths. Unfortunately, the $1.35 million purchase was sidelined with an ankle injury during the winter and early spring and missed the Derby prep-season. He is an intriguing contender in the Haskell as he has come nowhere close to reaching his potential due to the aforementioned setback. He could also secure an ideal pace-pressing trip behind ARABIAN KNIGHT and may have a fitness edge over that foe who’ll be making his first start in six months.
ARABIAN KNIGHT [ML 5-2] Jockey: John Velazquez. Trainer: Bob Baffert. Baffert has Won the Haskell Stakes a record nine times, and his other five starters in this race since 2000 have finished 2nd. The California-based trainer will put that superlative record on the line with ARABIAN KNIGHT. Johnny V. has been aboard for both of his Wins. The Hall of Famer is an expert at getting front-runners to settle into a good rhythm and conserve energy, although he’ll have to use some of that energy to urge his ride out of the starting gate quick from his outside post in order to angle in and save ground before reaching the first turn. If this colt is fit enough to regain his early 2023 form while making his first start in nearly six months, he’s a threat to wire the Haskell field.
The Haskell Stakes is slated as race 12 on a card of 14, with a scheduled Post Time of 5:45.
