The Highway to the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships resumes this Saturday, July 20, with an annual summer time spotlight occasion within the racing calendar. The 57th NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park is each a showcase for among the high 3-year-olds in coaching and a “Win and You’re In” Problem Collection qualifier for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional, which is about for Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
The 1 1/8-mile Haskell typically attracts horses that excelled within the Triple Crown collection through the spring and early summer time and serves as a begin to their second season with the Breeders’ Cup because the aim. That’s the case this 12 months as each the winner and runner-up of final month’s Belmont Stakes Introduced by NYRA Bets – Dornoch and Mindframe, respectively – are scheduled to seem in Monmouth’s signature race.
The $1 million Haskell Stakes can be nationally televised on NBC, streamed on Peacock, and in addition proven on FanDuel TV.
Get data on the entire Haskell contenders plus some handicapping insights in ABR’s Cheat Sheet.
1. Dornoch (5-2 morning-line odds)
Jockey: Luis Saez
Coach: Danny Gargan
House owners: West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Steady, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables
Profession file: 8 begins – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $1,752,275
Earnings per begin: $219,034
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 106
Pedigree: Good Magic – Puca, by Large Brown
Coloration: Bay
Working type: Pacesetter/press the tempo
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Following a few off-the-board finishes in Grade 1 stakes races, Dornoch rewarded devoted supporters at odds of 17.70-1 with a gritty half-length win over Mindframe within the Belmont Stakes Introduced by NYRA Bets June 8 at Saratoga. He had been extremely rated over the winter in Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve future books however his popularity took successful after ending a distant fourth within the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in April after which 10th of 20 within the Kentucky Derby on Might 5. Dornoch was requested to price off of the tempo within the Blue Grass by common jockey Luis Saez as per coach Danny Gargan’s directions, which didn’t work, and he then was up in opposition to it in Derby 150 after drawing the within submit amongst 20 horses. He endured a really tough journey within the Derby and did effectively to separate the sphere, after which validated his potential with a victory within the Belmont that occurred after he pressed the early tempo set by Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Gray, took over coming into the stretch, and outlasted a inexperienced Mindframe, who was making his stakes debut and solely his third profession begin. Dornoch has been coaching effectively at Saratoga since that win and may relish Monmouth Park’s speed-favoring most important monitor. A repeat of his Belmont effort ought to put him squarely in competition for a second Grade 1 victory, and count on Saez to aggressively place Dornoch on the early lead within the 1 1/8-mile Haskell breaking from the within submit. Saez gained the 2019 version of this race aboard Most Safety.
2. Jasper’s Pleasure (30-1)
Jockey: Jomar Torres
Coach: Chuck Spina
Proprietor: Prancing Horse Farm
Profession file: 6 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $94,639
Earnings per begin: $15,773
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 93
Pedigree: Il Postino – Cherokee Champion, by Max’s Pal
Coloration: Chestnut
Working type: Stalker/nearer
Notable achievements and fascinating details: This New Jersey-bred gelding was a late complement to the 57th Haskell and can be one of many longest pictures within the race come submit time – in all probability the longest. He’s by no means raced past six furlongs and, though in good kind by way of three begins in 2024, has been competing at a degree a number of leagues beneath his project on Saturday. In his 3-year-old debut on Might 19, he rallied to win a 5 ½-furlong dash at Monmouth by three lengths. He then got here proper again to shut late and take a six-furlong race by three-quarters of a size in early June. His most up-to-date begin, once more at his house monitor, almost resulted in one other win as Jasper’s Pleasure surged late and completed third by a neck in a six-furlong Monmouth allowance held on a sloppy monitor July 8. All of his six begins have been in races restricted to state-breds and his pedigree is basically tilted towards dash races. In a best-case situation for Jasper’s Pleasure, he may run previous a few drained horses and, on this small area, fill out the superfecta – which might be a minor shock.
3. Tuscan Sky (9-2)
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Coach: Todd Pletcher
Proprietor: Spendthrift Farm
Profession file: 4 begins – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $190,500
Earnings per begin: $47,625
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 111
Pedigree: Vino Rosso – South Andros, by Sky Mesa
Coloration: Grey or roan
Working type: Press the tempo/stalker
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Mindframe and Fierceness have captured many of the headlines amongst Todd Pletcher’s trio of Haskell entrants, however this flippantly raced son of Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional winner Vino Rosso shouldn’t be missed. Tuscan Sky enters off of a pointy 6 ¾-length rating within the 1 1/16-mile NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes held June 15 on Monmouth Park’s dust monitor, the place he assumed management of the tempo early on and drew clear of 5 opponents (together with fifth-place Sea Streak) to win going away. That was an attention-grabbing, bounce-back effort for this colt, who had gained his first two profession begins early in 2024 at six furlongs and 1 1/16 miles however then completed a well-defeated seventh within the 1 1 1/8-mile Wooden Memorial Stakes Introduced by Resorts World On line casino in April. Tuscan Sky earned a 111 Equibase Velocity Determine within the Pegasus Stakes, simply his career-best quantity, and if that’s not an outlier and might be repeated and even improved upon in Saturday’s Pegasus, he can topple his better-known stablemates and submit the upset. His tactical operating type ought to show to be an asset on this quick area, permitting him to settle simply off of the leaders and capitalize if the early tempo seems to be quick (the identical might be mentioned for stablemate Mindframe). Corridor of Famer Todd Pletcher has gained the Haskell thrice, with Bluegrass Cat in 2006, Any Given Saturday in 2007, and Verrazano in 2013. Co-owner Spendthrift Farm additionally co-owned 2020 Haskell winner Genuine. Corridor of Famer Javier Castellano is in search of his first Haskell victory; he completed second in final 12 months’s race aboard Kentucky Derby winner Mage.
4. Timberlake (8-1)
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Coach: Brad Cox
House owners: Siena Farm and WinStar Farm
Profession file: 7 begins – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $1,173,100
Earnings per begin: $167,586
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 106
Pedigree: Into Mischief – Pin Up, by Lookin At Fortunate
Coloration: Bay
Working type: Stalker
Notable achievements and fascinating details: This colt is a wild-card entrant in Saturday’s Haskell as he returns after a break of almost 4 months for coach Brad Cox, who’s gained this race two out of the previous three years. Timberlake was among the many high group of winter-book Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve favorites together with Dornoch based mostly on his strong 2-year-old season in 2024, highlighted by a Grade 1 win within the Champagne Stakes. He solidified these credentials with a victory within the $1.25 million, Grade 2 Insurgent Stakes to kick off his sophomore season in late February. In his subsequent begin, Timberlake dueled for the early lead with Muth within the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 30 however couldn’t sustain with the eventual winner and drained to complete fourth, after which Cox introduced that his cost would skip the Kentucky Derby regardless of having sufficient factors to qualify. The Into Mischief colt has been coaching steadily in Kentucky for his comeback within the Haskell, and he definitely has an opportunity at pulling off a gentle upset if he’s able to run a career-best race off the layoff. Different horses resembling Dornoch, Mindframe, and even Tuscan Sky have higher current kind, nonetheless. Cox’s two prior Haskell wins got here with Mandaloun in 2021 (by way of disqualification) and Cyberknife in 2022. WinStar Farm owned 2006 winner Bluegrass Cat and co-owned 2007 winner Any Given Saturday. Jockey Flavien Prat crossed the end line first within the 2021 Haskell aboard Sizzling Rod Charlie, however that colt was disqualified for interference within the stretch and positioned final, making Cox-trained Mandaloun the winner.
5. Fierceness (5-2)
Jockey: John Velazquez
Coach: Todd Pletcher
Proprietor: Repole Steady
Profession file: 6 begins – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $1,703,850
Earnings per begin: $283,975
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 110
Pedigree: Metropolis of Gentle – Nonna Bella, by Keep Thirsty
Coloration: Bay
Working type: Press the tempo
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Fierceness has been entered in Saturday’s Haskell Stakes however might as a substitute run within the Jim Dandy Stakes July 27 at Saratoga, with a closing resolution to come back within the subsequent couple of days from proprietor Mike Repole, who additionally co-owns Mindframe. Final 12 months’s champion 2-year-old male was made the three.21-1 favourite in opposition to 19 opponents in Derby 150 coming off of sensational 13 ½-length victory within the Curlin Florida Derby Introduced by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa on the finish of March. He hopped initially of the Derby after exiting an outdoor submit however recovered effectively sufficient to sit down simply behind the early leaders, solely to come back up empty when requested for his run by Corridor of Famer John Velazquez. Fierceness didn’t contest the Belmont Stakes and as a substitute was given extra time to arrange for his return within the Haskell, and he indicated that he could be able to rebound into high kind with a strong five-furlong exercise at Saratoga on July 13. Monmouth Park’s dust monitor favors horses with early pace, which this horse has in abundance. One take a look at his previous performances exhibits a sample that’s crystal clear: by way of six profession begins, Fierceness has alternated between successful powerfully with triple-digit Equibase Velocity Figures and disappointing because the post-time favourite. The “on once more, off once more” pendulum is about to swing again to brilliance in begin no. 7, and if it does, the Repole Steady homebred can re-establish himself as the most effective racehorses in his age group – both within the Haskell or per week later on the Spa. Velazquez has gained the Haskell twice, aboard Bluegrass Cat in 2006 and Verrazano in 2013. Each of these colts have been skilled by fellow Corridor of Fame member Todd Pletcher, who additionally begins Mindframe and Tuscan Sky on this 12 months’s Haskell. Pletcher has one different Haskell victory on his résumé, with Any Given Saturday in 2007.
6. Simply Step On It (30-1)
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Coach: Louis Lindner Jr.
House owners: Bran Jam Steady and David Clark
Profession file: 9 begins – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $121,150
Earnings per begin: $13,461
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 91
Pedigree: Speed up – Shea Darby, by Avenue Sense
Coloration: Bay
Working type: Stalker
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Like Jasper’s Pleasure, Simply Step On It was a late, supplemental entry to the Haskell Stakes and he carries similar 30-1 odds on the morning line. This colt started his profession with two second-place finishes in California earlier than being claimed and shipped to the Mid-Atlantic area, the place he’s made 4 begins at Parx Racing and three at Aqueduct. His three wins since shifting East have all are available in races held at a mile or barely longer, which makes him a extra aggressive outsider than Jasper’s Pleasure, though Simply Step On It flopped in his solely prior stakes look when ending fourth by 9 ½ lengths within the one-mile and 70-yard Metropolis of Brotherly Love Stakes at Parx again in March. He enters the Haskell off of his career-top race, taking a one-mile Parx allowance by 1 ¾ lengths on June 24 and incomes his greatest Equibase Velocity Determine of 91. That quantity is about 15-20 factors decrease than the historic commonplace for successful the Haskell Stakes, so this New York-bred can be onerous pressed to make an impression Saturday. He does choose up two-time Haskell-winning jockey Florent Geroux, which is a plus. Geroux gained this race in back-to-back years aboard Mandaloun in 2021 and Cyberknife in 2022, the primary coming by way of disqualification.
7. Mindframe (9-5)
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Coach: Todd Pletcher
House owners: Repole Steady and St. Elias Steady
Profession file: 3 begins – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $447,360
Earnings per begin: $149,120
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 108
Pedigree: Structure – Stroll of Stars, by Avenue Sense
Coloration: Darkish bay or brown
Working type: Press the tempo/stalker
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Mindframe will make solely his fourth profession begin Saturday within the Haskell Stakes, and he’s the slight morning-line favourite. This Maryland-bred son of fine younger sire Structure is the textbook definition of a “horse with upside” after dominating his first two begins in March and Might after which almost acing a serious class check within the Belmont Stakes Introduced by NYRA Bets June 8. Mindframe gained by 13 ¾ lengths sprinting at Gulfstream Park and romped by 7 ½ lengths going two turns for the primary time at Churchill Downs previous to the Belmont at Saratoga, the place he stalked early pacesetter Seize the Gray and Dornoch by way of the backstretch earlier than rallying into competition on the far flip. Mindframe was set down for the drive beneath Irad Ortiz Jr. and appeared to have sufficient momentum to overhaul Dornoch, however he shied out previous the eighth pole and misplaced some momentum, ending a half-length behind the Belmont winner and a size away from post-time favourite Sierra Leone. It’s cheap to count on extra maturity and focus from this proficient colt going ahead, and the Haskell might be the place Mindframe places all of it collectively and turns the tables on Dornoch whereas additionally warding off stablemates Fierceness and Tuscan Sky. Search for Irad Ortiz to place his mount simply off of the early tempo as soon as once more and maybe make his successful transfer a bit earlier this time. Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher has gained this race thrice, with Bluegrass Cat in 2006, Any Given Saturday in 2007, and Verrazano in 2013.
8. Sea Streak (20-1)
Jockey: Jairo Rendon
Coach: Eddie Owens Jr.
Proprietor: Holly Crest Farm
Profession file: 8 begins – 2 wins – 3 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $204,110
Earnings per begin: $25,514
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 105
Pedigree: Sea Wizard – Excessive Midday Nellie, by Silver Deputy
Coloration: Bay
Working type: Stalker
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Domestically-based Sea Streak has assembled a strong résumé by way of eight profession begins, hitting the board six occasions and incomes a triple-digit Equibase Velocity Determine two begins again in his lone stakes victory to this point, which got here within the Lengthy Department Stakes at his house monitor. Sea Streak gained the one mile and 70-yard Lengthy Department by an overwhelming 7 ¼ lengths, and that helped him go off because the post-time favourite within the subsequent NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes June 15 at Monmouth in opposition to a stronger area. Within the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus, the gelding began sluggish however recovered to stalk the early tempo whereas racing both 5 or 6 large after which drained on the far flip to complete 12 ¼ lengths behind Tuscan Sky. Clearly, he’ll want to enhance considerably within the Grade 1 Haskell to have any shot at pulling off the upset, and total, Sea Streak appears greatest suited to competing in races held at one mile or barely longer. In his hardest race to this point, Sea Streak completed seventh, defeated by 8 ¼ lengths, within the 1 1/16-mile, Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes again in February (Fierceness was third). It’s onerous to ascertain this gelding competing into deep stretch in opposition to this area, however he’s received a shot at ending third or fourth within the Haskell if a few his extra completed foes fail to fireside.
