The million dollar, Grade 1 Haskell Stakes is Saturday at Monmouth Park.
It is the first major race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds since the end of the Triple Crown series back in early June.
The Haskell is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In Challenge Series, offering the Winner an automatic, fees-paid berth to the $7 million dollar BC Classic at Del Mar on November 1st.
The 1 1/8 mile Haskell often attracts several prominent runners from the Triple Crown, and this year is no exception as a competitive field of eight is ready to do battle on the Jersey shore.
Here is a brief look at the field for the Haskell:
1. BRACKET BUSTER [ML 10-1] Trainer: Victoria Oliver. Jockey: John Velazquez. Was geared down in his last start to Win by seven lengths on a sloppy and sealed Monmouth Park main track in the Pegasus– a local prep race for the Haskell. He appeared twice on the Kentucky Derby trail, finishing 5th in the Street Sense (G3) in his final start as a 2-year-old and this year in the Lexington (G3) in April, where he was in front most of the way but was passed by GOSGER.
2. JOURNALISM [ML 4-5] Trainer: Michael McCarthy. Jockey: Umberto Rispoli. Ran 2nd in the Kentucky Derby, 1st in the Preakness and 2nd in the Belmont, which has him ranked as the second best 3-year-old in the country. Before the Triple Crown, he Won four races in a row in California, including the Santa Anita Derby (G1). In eight starts, this son of CURLIN never ran worse than 3rd, and that happened in his first career start.
3. WILDNCRAZYNIGHT [ML 30-1] Trainer: Dan Ward. Jockey: Isaac Castillo. This New Jersey-bred is the most experienced horse in the field, with 10 starts. He broke his Maiden at Delaware Park last year and Won an Allowance against state-breds at Monmouth in May. He made three starts in Stakes at Oaklawn against 3-year-olds, with a 4th-place finish as his best.
4. BURNHAM SQUARE [ML 5-1] Trainer: Ian Wilkes. Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. He is a Grade 1-Winning millionaire with two Victories on the Kentucky Derby trail in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park and the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. In the Run For the Roses he was 6th after encountering trouble at the half-mile pole. Last out was a 2nd place finish in the Matt Winn (G3) at Churchill Downs.
5. NATIONAL LAW [ML 20-1] Trainer: Jorge Duarte Jr. Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Was an Allowance Winner at Pimlico in his first start as a 3-year-old. Last seen he was 4th in the Pegasus at Monmouth Park behind BRACKET BUSTER and WILDNCRAZTNIGHT.
6. GOSGER [ML 9-2] Trainer: Brendan Walsh. Jockey: Luis Saez. Has done very little wrong in his four-race career. He broke his Maiden in his second try at Gulfstream after running 2nd in his debut. He moved on to Win the Lexington Stakes (G3). Most recently, in the Preakness he pressed the pace and was ahead of the trouble that happened at the top of the stretch while racing on the lead at that point. After JOURNALISM made his way through the bumping, he was able to run down GOSGER to Win by a half-length.
7. KENTUCKY OUTLAW [ML 15-1] Trainer: Felissa Dunn. Jockey: Florent Geroux. Won his first two starts at Parx Racing in the late winter with a Maiden Victory and an Allowance. He was 5th in the Federico Tesio in April. The blinkers went on for his Win in the Long Branch at Monmouth Park and a 3rd in the Delaware Derby after setting the pace. The nine-furlong distance against a Grade 1 field seems a bit much to ask of him.
8. GOAL ORIENTED [ML 4-1] Trainer: Bob Baffert. Jockey: Flavien Prat. Won his first two races, a Santa Anita Maiden in April with a late rally and then an Allowance at Churchill on the lead. He then ran 4th in the Preakness– as Prat had to check during the bumping incident but he appeared to be backing up badly at that point in the race. Baffert has Won the Haskell nine times since 2001- his most recent Victory was in 2020 with AUTHENTIC.
The Haskell Stakes is slated as race 12 on a card of 14 with a scheduled Post Time of 5:45.
Best of luck however you play it.
