The Grade 1 $1 million Haskell owns a storied history at the Jersey Shore, from a rematch between Alysheba and Bet Twice in 1987 to Holy Bull and Skip Away’s dominance in the 1990s to American Pharoah’s first post-Triple Crown victory in 2015.
Horseplayers on the 1/ST BET and Xpressbet platforms Saturday can take advantage of a 2 Million 1/ST Rewards Points Hit & Split on Monmouth Park’s Races 9-12 pick 4 that concludes with the Haskell.
Let’s meet the contenders for the 1-1/8 miles Haskell (Race 12):
#1-DORNOCH: Dueling Belmont Stakes winner (pictured above) figures to be part of the early pace from a rail draw. Seeks to become the first sophomore colt to win multiple Grade 1 races routing on dirt in the 2024 crop. Dornoch is a son of 2017 Haskell winner Good Magic, and he’s full-brother to last year’s Kentucky Derby winner and eventual Haskell runner-up Mage. Luis Saez piloted 2019 Haskell winner Maximum Security.
#2-JASPER’S PRIDE: New Jersey-bred local will be the field’s rank outsider if he stays in the lineup (also cross-entered Friday’s Jersey Shore Stakes). Two-time winner at the current Monmouth meet makes his stakes debut with a maiden and allowance tally on his ledger. Trainer Chuck Spina seeks his first Grade 1 victory.
#3-TUSCAN SKY: Trainer Todd Pletcher’s 3 Haskell wins came in 2006 (Bluegrass Cat), 2007 (Any Given Saturday) and 2013 (Verrazano). Like Tuscan Sky, Verrazano came out of a victory in Monmouth’s Pegasus Stakes, a race that also produce ’21 Haskell champ Mandaloun. Tuscan Sky has won 3 of 4 starts and his handy prep win for this came at the expense of Domestic Dispute, who returned 2 weeks ago to win the Grade 3 Dwyer. Son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso employs a pace-pressing style.
#4-TIMBERLAKE: Trainer Brad Cox won the 2021 and 2022 Haskell editions with Mandaloun and Cyberknife, and returns with this come-backer who has been away since April’s Arkansas Derby. $1.1 million earner scored last year’s Grade 1 Champagne, returned this year to win the Grade 2 Rebel and then had his Triple Crown dreams dashed when fading to fourth in the 9-furlong Arkansas Derby. Distance will be the question again for son of Into Mischief, who is 1-for-3 around 2 turns. Versatile running style, but should not be far off the pace while returning fresh.
#5-FIERCENESS: Race status to be determined; he could scratch and await next Saturday’s Jim Dandy at Saratoga. Last year’s Champion 2-Year-Old Male was devastating in his record-margin victory of the Florida Derby, but equally disappointing in a 15th-place surrender in the Kentucky Derby. He hasn’t raced since and missed the Belmont Stakes when not training up to snuff. Todd Pletcher’s 3 Haskell wins came in 2006 (Bluegrass Cat), 2007 (Any Given Saturday) and 2013 (Verrazano), the latter pairing with John Velazquez in the saddle.
#6-JUST STEP ON IT: Two-time Haskell-winning jockey Florent Geroux (’21 Mandaloun, ’22 Cyberknife) rides this Parx-based colt, who will make the short van ride across the Garden State. Claimed for $32,000 at Del Mar in December, he’s won 3 of 7 since for new trainer Louis Linder. No factor in only stakes bid to date and makes longest distance attempt of his career.
#7-MINDFRAME: Morning-line favorite exits a wandering second in the Belmont Stakes when finishing a half-length behind return rival Dornoch. Made the lead in mid-stretch, drifted out, regrouped and came up short in what was only his third career start and first stakes bid. Would appear to have as much upside remaining as any 3-year-old in the crop and is accustomed to big crowds with starts on Kentucky Derby Day and Belmont Day under his belt. Todd Pletcher’s 3 Haskell wins came in 2006 (Bluegrass Cat), 2007 (Any Given Saturday) and 2013 (Verrazano). Irad Ortiz Jr. has been aboard in each start and seeks his first Haskell trophy while expected to be pressing the pace.
#8-SEA STREAK: No-match fifth in the Pegasus Stakes when facing Haskell return rival Tuscan Sky, beaten more than a dozen lengths. Regressed big-time off his blowout victory to start the Monmouth meet in the Long Branch. The last local Long Branch Stakes winner to add the Haskell was Lion Heart in 2004. New Jersey-bred could give trainer Eddie Owens Jr. his first Grade 1 victory.
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