Though only a sparse seven sophomores dare to try, each contender for the Haskell Invitational Stakes has already achieved graded stakes success. A 1st place finish in this race secures a nice purse, a stunning trophy and an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The 50th running of the Haskell is going to be sensational!
The Betfair.com Haskell is an invitation-only stakes race, held annually at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. It is a dirt race for 3 year-olds of 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) with a purse on $1 million dollars. The race is named for former Monmouth President, Amory L. Haskell. The Haskell, inaugurated in 1968, has developed into a popular prep race for the BC Classic and became part of the “Win and You’re In” series in 2015. Last year Exaggerator won the Haskell, the year prior, Triple Crown winning American Pharoah won on his way to hit the only ever Grand Slam when he won the BC Classic.
This weekend’s Haskell will take place on Sunday, July 30, 2017 at “The Shore’s Greatest Stretch” (Monmouth Park). NBC will provide television coverage from 5 to 6 P.M. EDT. The Haskell is the 12th race on a card of 14. Gates open at 10 A.M. with the 1st race posting at noon, while the Haskell runs at 5:47 P.M. EDT.
The rascals are as follows by post position, horse, jockey, trainer, owner, and morning-line odds:
- Irish War Cry/R. Maragh/H. G. Motion/Isabelle de Tomasso/5-2
- Battle of Midway/F. Prat/J. Hollendorfer/Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm/5-1
- Timeline/J. Castellano/C. C. Brown/ Woddford Racing, LLC./3-1
- Practical Joke/J. Rosario/C. C. Brown/Klaravich Stables and W. H. Lawrence/4-1
- McCraken/B. J. Hernandez, Jr./I. R. Wilkes/Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC./9-2
- Hence/P. Lopez/S. M. Asmussen/Calumet Farm/12-1
- Girvin/R. Albarado/J. Sharp/Brad Grady/6-1
Irish War Cry is the favorite at home. He is the New Jersey bred colt of Curlin and Irish Sovereign. Irish War Cry has a 4 win, 1 place record in 7 starts. He finished 2nd in the Belmont Stakes. He has won 2 Grade 2 stakes races.
Battle of Midway is sired by Smart Strike. His dam is Rigoletta. He is KY bred. Battle of Midway finished 3rd in the Kentucky Derby. He has a 3-1-2 (win-place-show) in 6 starts record. Last month he won the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes.
Timeline is another KY bred colt. He is the offspring of Hard Spun and Azorina. Timeline is undefeated. He has raced 4 times. His last 2 races were each Grade 3. He won the Betfair.com Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth in June.
Yet another KY boy, Practical Joke was born to Into Mischief and Halo Humor. Practical Joke has a 4-2-1 in 8 record. He is not only a multiple stakes winner but a multiple Grade 1 winner. He was 3rd in the BC Juvenile.
McCraken is also a KY colt. His sire is Ghostzapper and his dam is Ivory Empress. McCraken boasts a nice 5 wins in seven starts. He finished 3rd once as well. He won his last time out in the Matt Winn Stakes. With mutiple graded stakes wins he has not won a Grade 1 to date.
Hence too is KY bred. He is the colt of Street Boss and Floating Island. Hence has a 3-1-1 record for his 9 starts. His last start was the Iowa Derby, where he won. Hence is looking for his 1st Grade 1 win.
Girvin, is a son of Tale of Ekati and Catch the Moon. He is yet another KY bred. Girvin, a multiple graded stakes winner, has won 3 and placed in 2 of his 6 career starts. He finished 2nd his last time out, in the Ohio Derby, by a very close photo finish to Irap. Girvin has yet to win a Grade 1 race.
This Haskell is said to have one of the more competitive fields. I suspect the race will be a close one. Gun Runner has already secured a spot in the BC Classic from winning the Stephen Foster Handicap. Who will get the next berth by winning the Haskell?
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