OCEANPORT – A year ago it was West Coast invader Geaux Rocket Ride finishing ahead of Kentucky Derby winner Mage to pull off the upset on Haskell Day at Monmouth Park.
And when they load the field into the starting gate for the 57th running of the $1 million NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes Saturday, there’s the potential for another dramatic finish.
The nine furlong Grade 1 test for 3-year-olds looms as a big moment in a wide open division, serving as a stepping stone for some to Travers Stages at Saratoga on Aug. 24, with an eye on winning a year-end championship.
With Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch topping the field, post time for the first of 14 races is at noon, with the Haskell to be run just before 6 p.m.
The post position draw for the 2024 NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes is set for today at noon at Monmouth Park, so check back for complete coverage, including post positions and morning line odds. For now, here are the contenders expected to run in the Haskell Saturday:
1. DORNOCH 5/2
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Luis Saez
Owners: West Paces Racing, R.A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, Pine Racing Stables.
MORE ON DORNOCH: Monmouth Park railbird as a kid returns with the top horse in New Jersey’s biggest race
With $1.75 million in earnings thanks to a Grade 1 and two Grade 2 victories, Dornoch is the class of the field, coming in off a half-length score in the Belmont Stakes to close the Triple Crown series out, having finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby after drawing the rail. The 101 Beyer Speed Figure from the Belmont is the second highest in the field, behind only Mindframe. Dornoch’s capable of wiring the field if unchallenged on the lead, but can also sit just off the pace.
2. JASPER’S PRIDE 30-1
Trainer: Chuck Spina
Jockey: Jomar Torres
Owner: Prancing Horse Farm, LLC.
Another 11th hour addition to help fill out the field, this Jersey-bred gelding broke its maiden at Monmouth Park on May 19, the first start in nine months, before winning an allowance race on June 8 with a strong finish, but at six furlongs. Closed for third in another six-furlong allowance test at Monmouth on July 6, with the added distance working in this long-shot closer’s favor.
3. TUSCAN SKY 9/2
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Owner: Spendthrift Farm
How good is Tuscan Sky? It’s an intriguing question. His impressive 6 ¾ length win in the Pegasus on June 15 at Monmouth Park, which equated to a sparkling 99 Beyer Speed Figure, was over Domestic Product, who came back and won the Grade 3 Dwyer by 7 ½ lengths on July 6. Improving on that performance in just his fifth career start could be enough to win. Runs best at the front or very close to it.
4. TIMBERLAKE 8-1
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Owner: Siena Farm & WinStar Farm
Cox goes for his third Haskell victory (Mandaloun in 2021, Cyberknife in 2022) in four years, sending Timberlake out off a 15-week layoff since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby as the favorite, getting locked up in a speed duel with Muth before fading to fourth. In Timberlake’s best two starts he’s stalked the pace, winning the Grade 1 Champagne and Grade 2 Rebel. It’s a big ask off a long break, but Timberlake has the class to pull it off with the right trip.
5. FIERCENESS 5/2
Trainer Todd Pletcher entered the 2-year-old champion but said at the time that he could still be pulled an run in the Jim Dandy, with part of the decision based on whether or not owner Mike Repole, who also owns part of Mindframe, wants to run the two against each other. His regular jockey, John Velazquez, has mounts at Saratoga Saturday. If Fierceness does run, the Haskell becomes a very good betting race.
6. JUST STEP ON IT 30-1
Trainer: Louis Linder, Jr.
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Owner: Bran Jam Stable and David W. Clark
This Parx-based colt will be a last-minute addition to fill out a field that had just five runners when Fierceness was routed to the Jim Dandy on July 27. Huge step up in class, coming in off an allowance win at Parx on June 24. Has tried stakes competition once, finishing fourth in the $75,000 City of Brotherly Love at Parx on March 5.
7. MINDFRAME 9/5
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables
The 103 Beyer Speed Figure from a maiden win at Gulfstream Park on March 30, a 13 ¾-length score first time out, remains the top figure in the field. And after a $100,000 Churchill Downs allowance win by 7 ½ lengths, the Constitution colt, a $600,000 yearling purchase, could have won the Belmont at Saratoga, but showed inexperience in bearing out in the stretch and allowing Dornoch to take control, finishing second by a half-length. Ortiz Jr., the top rider in the country five of the last six years, is expected to have the mount.
8. SEA STREAK 20-1
Trainer: Eddie Owens Jr.
Jockey: Jairo Rendon
Owner: Holly Crest Farm
MORE ON SEA STREAK: Why an unheralded horse carries the hopes of NJ racing in Monmouth Park’s $1 million Haskell
Won the $100,000 Long Branch on opening day at Monmouth Park by 7 ½ lengths, getting a 91 Beyer Speed Figure. But in the $150,000 NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes on June 15, Sea Streak tried to grab the lead from the outside post and got hung five-wide, eventually finishing fifth, 12 lengths behind Haskell entrant Tuscan Sky, who got a 99 Beyer. Runner-up Domestic Product posted a 101 Beyer three weeks later in winning the Grade 3 Dwyer. Owens Jr. will be looking for his first career win in a graded stake. In Sea Streak’s lone start in a graded stake, he finished seventh in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 3 at 55-1. Will be the longest shot in the field, but could hit the board if things break right.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Haskell Stakes: Betting advice, post positions, odds and analysis
