2023 Haskell Contenders & Odds at Monmouth Park

The biggest event at Monmouth Park - the $1 million Haskell Stakes, is set to celebrate its 56th renewal on Saturday, July 22.

The Haskell is a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series, with the race winner receiving an automatic spot with fees paid for the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday, November 4.

Arabian Knight Will Battle Kentucky Derby Winner Mage in Haskell Stakes

Arabian Knight, highly-regarded but lightly-raced, will put his unblemished record on the line as the 5-2 morning line favorite in a field of eight talented sophomores in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 22.

Kentucky Derby winner Mage was made the 3-1 co-second choice along with fellow Grade 1 winner Tapit Trice in the 56th renewal of the Haskell, which is a "Win and You're In" for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

Arabian Knight, a son of champion Uncle Mo and a $2.3 million purchase by Zedan Racing Stables, will be making his third career start. He is trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who is looking to add to his record nine Haskell wins.

"It's exciting to win the Haskell. It's a race where every year when I'm (evaluating) my 2-year-olds I always try to figure out who's going to be my Haskell horse," Baffert said by phone from his Southern California base. "The reason we've always been so successful there is because I always bring my best horses there. You need to do that if you're going to win that race."

Arabian Knight graduated from the maiden ranks with a dazzling gate-to-wire performance on the undercard of last November's Breeders' Cup, and for an encore made every pole a winning one in the 1 1/16 miles Southwest Stakes (Grade 3) at Oaklawn Park in his only other start on Jan. 28. The combined margin of victory was 12¾ lengths.

Hall of Fame ride John Velazquez has the mount.

"The layoff freshened him up," said Baffert. "He's doing really well. He's pretty fit. I think he's ready for the mile and an eighth and it's going to be a tough race, but he's trained well."

Arabian Knight will break from the far outside in the eight-horse field. From the rail out, with jockeys and morning line odds, his competitors are: Geaux Rocket Ride (Mike Smith, 9-2); Awesome Strong (Jose Batista, 30-1); Salute the Stars (Joel Rosario, 8-1); Mage (Javier Castellano, 3-1); Tapit Trice (Luis Saez, 3-1); Howgreatisnate (Paco Lopez, 20-1); and Extra Anejo (Tyler Gaffalione, 5-1).

"I don't particularly like the eight (post)," said Baffert. "I was hoping to be in the middle somewhere. The break is going to be important. It always is there. I feel good about the way he's going into the race. Conditioning-wise, he's ready for it."

Ramiro Restrepo, a co-owner of the Kentucky Derby winner and third-place Preakness Stakes finisher last out, said he and trainer Gustavo Delgado are not concerned about Mage's lack of favoritism, or the nine-week layoff.

"I believe the horse's entire body of work and his entire career is what defines him. It's not just one race," Restrepo said. "He had a great break. It's the start of the second half of his 3-year-old year. We feel he's good enough to compete and put forth a quality effort. Hopefully, that's good enough to get the job done and put forth a great performance and keep it moving.

"We're happy we have a talented horse who's feeling good, and we hope he'll give a great account of himself Saturday."

Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Tapit Trice exits a third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes on June 10. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said the son of Tapit, who has run at six different tracks, came out of the Belmont in excellent shape and is full of good energy.

"Post position five works well, He's had a history of drawing inside so that works out well. It looks like there's plenty of pace for him to run at," said Pletcher, who is a three-time Haskell winner (Blue Grass Cat, 2006; Any Given Saturday, 2007; Verrazano, 2013).

Two-time Eclipse Award winner Brad Cox is back in the Haskell for the third straight year in his third overall appearance. Mandaloun, the adjudged Kentucky Derby winner, brought home the hardware in 2012 and Arkansas Derby winner Cyberknife added to his trophy case last year, setting a track and stakes record in the process.

Gary and Mary West's Salute the Stars, a winner of the listed Pegasus Stakes here in his last start, will look to keep Cox's Haskell record perfect. Cox took over his training in mid-winter, switched him from the turf to dirt, and the colt hasn't lost since.

"Mandaloun and Cyberknife were more accomplished colts. But he acted like a good horse the day he walked into the barn. That's only one exciting thing about him," said Cox. "I don't know if the fact he's run over the track and won on it gives us an advantage, but it's a plus. These are obviously very good horses we're running against. It's definitely not a disadvantage.

"He definitely needs to step forward, but he hasn't regressed one bit. This is a Grade 1 race with Grade 1 caliber horses. We'll need him to move forward, and I think he will and can. I hope he can negotiate the first turn a little better and get a cleaner trip this time. He's lightly raced, and once again, he's had a race over the track. It's not a negative. It's only a positive."

Extra Anejo, whom Winchell Thoroughbreds paid $1.35 million for as a yearling, will be making the class jump from the allowance ranks into Grade 1 company and against much more battle-seasoned competitors for the first time. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is brimming with confidence, nevertheless.

"I think this it's the perfect spot for him," said Asmussen. "We have built him up to this point and what a great opportunity it is for him. He is a very physically impressive horse, a horse who carries himself with a tremendous amount of confidence.

"He's obviously stepping up into graded stakes company but he's seen plenty of good company in the mornings and I feel that he is up to this."

Asmussen, who trained the Horse of the Year three times in Curlin (2007-08) and 2009 Haskell winner Rachel Alexandra, has conditioned many champions for the Winchell Family and they include Untapable, 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, and Echo Zulu. He had high praise for Extra Anejo.

"He's been extremely obvious from day one. Winchell Thoroughbreds have had a lot of top quality horses and this is as excellent a prospect as any of them." said Asmussen.

Asmussen was also delighted with the draw.

"Post seven is an excellent draw for him," he said. "It's a mile-and-an-eighth with eight runners and plenty of run to the first turn. There is a lot size to Extra Anejo. He'll be able to hold whatever position (Luis) Saez has to have with him."

Richard Mandella is one of the four Hall of Famers trainers contesting the Haskell.

Pin Oak Stud's Geaux Rocket Ride, who was unraced as a juvenile and got knocked off the Kentucky Derby trail this spring by a fever, impressed when winning the June Affirmed Stakes last time out. The Haskell is his fourth career outing.

"He hasn't raced that much, but he does everything so smart. I think he can handle this. I'm excited about running him in a race of this magnitude," said Mandella, who won the 2000 Haskell with Dixie Union. "He's a colt that's done more than we've asked of him every time. We have a lot of high hopes."

Geaux Rocket Ride drew the rail in what figures to shape up as a rider's race. Hall of Famer Mike Smith will be at the reins for the first time.

"I'm just happy to be in there. He's got good speed. So we'll let him run out of there and then Mike will decide what to do after that," said Mandella.

In Baffert's assessment, "This is a very tough race and there are some good horses in there. You've got the Derby winner (Mage) and that will make it an exciting race. Extra Anejo is a superstar kind of horse. The (Brad Cox) horse that won the race before (the Pegasus prep) that got left (at the gate, Salute the Stars) is pretty impressive. Geaux Rocket Ride is another who's a good horse and could win. I think they got a great field.

"You're going to have to bring your `A' game to win."

In addition to the Haskell, which is the 12th of the 14 races on the card, the Grade 1, $600,000 United Nations Stake is also featured. The Grade 3, $500,000 Molly Pitcher, the Grade 3, $400,000 Monmouth Cup, and the Grade 3, $300,000 WinStar Matchmaker are the supporting graded stakes.

Kentucky Derby Winner Mage Joins Field For Haskell 2023

July 18 - Saying "it's time to get the train started again," co-owner Ramiro Restrepo announced today that Kentucky Derby winner Mage will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 22.

The presence of the 3-year-old son of 2018 Haskell winner Good Magic brings the number of current commitments to Monmouth Park's mile and an eighth showcase race to eight.

Joining Mage in the field are Arabian Knight, Awesome Strong, Extra Anejo, Geaux Rocket Ride, Howgreatisnate, Salute the Stars and Tapit Trice.

Mage last raced in the Preakness Stakes on May 20, finishing third.

"Our summer goal since the Preakness was run, for us personally, has always been the Travers (at Saratoga on Aug. 26)," said Restrepo. "We were thinking about the best way to get to the Travers. The Haskell falls five weeks out and gives us an opportunity to come back in a strong race against a solid field - and against some of the best 3-year-olds in the country.

"We're excited for the opportunity to get him back in action."

Mage, unraced at 2, will be making his fourth straight start in Grade 1 company in the Haskell.

"He had a great break after the Preakness - 17 days of no saddle and no racetrack," said Restrepo. "The break was good for him.

"We've only had three works since then. The weather played a role in that. But it's time to get the train started again. Three works for this race is not ideal but we've got to get the ball rolling."

Mage will ship in from Kentucky tomorrow, Restrepo said.

"We're pleased to have the opportunity to race in historically famous races with a lot of tradition and to be part of race at a beautiful setting like Monmouth Park," he said.

Javier Castellano has the mount for trainer Gustavo Delgado, Sr..

Four Hall of Famer trainers will be part of the Haskell field - Todd Pletcher (Tapit Trice), Bob Baffert (Arabian Knight), Richard Mandella (Geaux Rocket Ride) and Steve Asmussen (Extra Anejo). Baffert will be seeking a record 10th Haskell victory.

The Haskell headlines a 14-race card that features four other graded stakes, including the Grade 1, $600,000 United Nations.

First race post time Saturday, July 22 is noon.

Blue Grass Stakes Winner Tapit Trice In for 2023 Haskell Stakes

July 15 - Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed today that Tapit Trice, winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes, will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 22, following the colt's workout this morning at Belmont Park.

Tapit Trice joins Geaux Rocket Ride, Arabian Knight, Howgreatisnate, Salute the Stars and Extra Anejo as 3-year-olds currently committed to Monmouth Park's showcase race.

The connections of Kentucky Derby winner Mage have indicated they will make a decision regarding the Haskell early next week.

Tapit Trice, a $1.3 million yearling purchase who is owned by Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Thoroughbreds, was third in the Belmont Stakes in his most recent start.

He worked four furlongs breezing in :49.15 this morning.

"He just did what he normally does, which is work well and gallop out strongly. He was moving great. It was everything we wanted to see," Pletcher said.

Pletcher's presence gives the Haskell four Hall of Fame trainers for the race, along with Richard Mandella (Geaux Rocket Ride), Bob Baffert (Arabian Knight) and Steve Asmussen (Extra Anejo).

Baffert will be looking to add to his record of nine Haskell wins.

The 56th running of the Haskell Stakes headlines a 14-race card the includes the Grade 1, $600,000 United Nations at a mile and three-eighths on the turf and three Grade 3 stakes - the $500,000 Molly Pitcher, the $400,000 Monmouth Cup and the $300,000 WinStar Matchmaker.

The post position draw for the Haskell is Wednesday, July 19.

BREEDERS' CUP CHALLENGE SERIES FEATURES 80 AUTOMATIC QUALIFYING RACES FOR 2023 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

May 10, 2023 - Breeders' Cup Limited today announced the 2023 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In schedule of 80 races in 11 countries. Each winner will receive automatic qualifying positions, with fees paid, into a corresponding race in the 2023 Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Horses from around the globe will qualify through the Win and You're In program, now in its 16th year, for the 40th running of the World Championships. Consisting of 14 Grade 1 races and purses and awards totaling $31 million, this year's Championships will be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The first Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race of the year in the United States will be the May 29 Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park, a qualifying race for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1).

There will be eight automatic berths awarded for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The 5-year-old Lemon Pop became the first horse to qualify for this year's Longines Breeders' Cup Classic when he won the Feb. 19 February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan.

The next automatic qualifier in the division will be the July 1 Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs. The Stephen Foster will be followed by the July 22 Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park and the Aug. 5 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. The Aug. 23 Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York in England will be the only European Win and You're In for the Classic.

There will be two Classic Division automatic qualifying races Sept. 2 when Saratoga hosts The Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and Del Mar runs the FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic (G1). The Sept. 30 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park will be the final Classic qualifier this year.

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