KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes drew a field of eight 3-year-olds, including Kentucky Derby winner Mage. It was, however, Arabian Knight who was named the 5-2 morning-line favorite as trainer Bob Baffert will try to win Monmouth Park’s signature race for the 10th time.
The field includes five trainers who have combined to win the Haskell 16 times since 2000. Along with Baffert, Todd Pletcher has three victories with Verrazano most recently in 2013, and Brad Cox was the winner the last two years. Richard Mandella had one previous runner in the Haskell and was victorious with Dixie Union in 2000. The filly Rachel Alexandra was a winner for Steve Asmussen in 2009.
Geaux Rocket Ride, who was assigned 9-2 odds in the morning line, drew the rail for Mandella as he ships to New Jersey after a victory in the Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita in June.
“He's a colt that has done more than we've asked him all the time,” Mandella explained. “So, we have a lot of high hopes and we'll find out. He's not raced that much. But he but he does everything so smart. I think he can handle it.”
Brad Cox will try to win the Haskell for the third year in a row with Salute the Stars, who recently won the Pegasus, the local prep race, in only his second start on the dirt. The son of Candy Ride will break from the 3 post with 8-1 morning-line odds.
Tapit Trice also was assigned 3-1 odds and will break from post position 5 for Todd Pletcher. He was third in the Belmont Stakes in his last start after finishing seventh in the Derby.
“In the Belmont, I thought it was another big effort from him,” Pletcher said. “He unfortunately got a pretty wide trip and, you know, I think that was sort of the difference in the outcome. He came out of the Belmont in really good order and just full of energy.”
Arabian Knight is unbeaten in two starts and has not run since January, when he won the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn by more than five lengths. The Baffert runner was named the 5-2 favorite and will be break from the far outside.
