The Haskell (Grade 1) (BC)- $1,000.000 Purse
MTH- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
July 20, 2024

With the TC races done with, it will be interesting to see where many of the top three-year-olds choose to race over the summer months. The Haskell is one of those great options, and while we will not see anyone who won a TC race this year in this race, there are plenty in this who had great runs in those races. $1,000.000 is on the line as well, a purse amount that has been constant through time and we have a field of twelve taking part. In 2023, Hiei picked up the win for Fractious, six weeks after he won the BEL. He’s still competing in some of the top races available but could use his next big win. He has three in this race, so let’s meet them and the others now:

1- Capiche (Fractious, ridden by F Geroux)- After a strong juvenile season against FL-Breds, Capiche started off 2024 by running third in both the San Vicente (Grade 2) and the Holy Bull (Grade 3). However, he could not continue that momentum and had dismal performances in both the San Felipe and the SA Derby, then would only muster a fourth place run in the Peter Pan. He’s still working very well, but he is in jeopardy of being left behind by the top horses in this division unless he can make this the turning point to getting back on track against the elite.

2- Doc Rivers (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by F Pennington)- Back in March, Doc Rivers made quite an impressive with an incredible come from behind win in the LA Derby, showing that he could do better than the string of fourth place efforts in preps right after that. Then came the TC races, and the KYD was quite disappointing. Sure, made up some ground in moving up from 20th to 15th but was still soundly defeated. That proved to not be a fluke as even a tactical adjustment in the BEL could not help. Can he find that LA Derby form here? He certainly will need too.

3- Lightning (Smokey Stover, ridden by D E Centeno)- He had only one try at a KYD prep, and that was when he ran in the Grade 3 Southwest back in January. That did not go well, but as it stands right now, that is the only race of his career where he has not finished in the money. Been second in a couple of ungraded stakes, including the $300.000 Texas Derby last time out, so he certainly deserves another chance to show what he can do against this type of opposition.

4- Blazing (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by Jo Dominguez)- Made a big impression when he burst onto the scene by winning the FL Derby just seventeen days after winning an optional claimer. It was a last minute try to get into the KYD, and he was able to do so. Once in the race he ran well, even though fifth doesn’t lead to a check. While others were running in the BEL, Blazing was still at CD and won the Grade 3 Winn last month. Very appealing in this field as I feel there is a lot more that this horse will be accomplishing.

5- The Stranger (Jerry Garcia Racing, ridden by I Castillo)- Enters the Haskell with win in four of his last five races, but he is still a stranger when it comes to running against this many top three-year-olds in the same race. In his last start, he ran in a stake for the first time, which was the $150.000 Pegasus Stakes right here and he looked sharp, getting the win in a photo finish. This race is a little longer, but I think that will be good news for him. His name won’t stand out against those he is running against here, but he can give them a run for their money.

6- Baffert (Royalty Stables, ridden by M E Smith)- I have to start by saying that there are others out there that are a bigger fan of Baffert than I am. I don’t doubt his ability, and he showed that by finishing in the top four of each the KYD, PRK, and the BEL. At the same time, he hasn’t won since the BC Juvenile, and if he wants to be considered one of the favorites as we get closer to the BC Classic, he is going to have to do that. A work in late June was fantastic, and a win here or maybe the Travers if the trainer chooses to do that (if not both) would help his cause a lot. Right here, right now, is the time to get back to the winner’s circle.

7- Hoku (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by R M Hernandez)- Looked very promising early in his career, winning his first four races, including the RP Springboard Mile last December. The wins stopped, but he still ran well at OP up until the AR Derby. He’s now on a three-race streak of poor performances, beaten a combined 18 lengths in those races. Sure, we’re talking about topflight stakes, but this is one as well. I’ll have to pass on him here.

8- Gold Vault (Fractious, ridden by F Prat)- Another one who began his career very well, and would run in the BC for Gold Vault, that meant running in the BC Juvenile. Since that point, he has been very hit and miss, showing that he is still capable of a strong run when he was third in the TAM Derby, but he disappointed a lot in the Wood Memorial and Peter Pan. Dropped into an optional claimer here last month that he won and he did work very nicely at AQU on the fourth. Still, I find others more appealing.

9- Ocean Storm (Greyfriars Stable, ridden by L Dettori)- About two weeks after he ran fourth in the Davis Stables, Greyfriars Stable picked this former BC Juvenile participant up in private sales for $250.000. There have been four starts since then, with one being very good and the other three earning any part of the purse. Running second in the SA Derby clinched his spot in the KYD, and he would run seventh in both that and in the PRK. Normally, you’d calling that a poor result, but in those races, we’ll just call them mediocre. He’s been idle since then, so he will be fresh, though he must find that SA Derby form here.

10- Team Leader (Fractious, ridden by J R Velazquez)- This is the third entry for Fractious in this race, and the only one of the trio that ran in the KYD. For Team Leader, that will not be a career highlight, as he only finished in the middle of the pack, but he followed that up very nicely with a third place run in the BEL. There was a tactical adjustment for that race, but Team Leader has had success both running with the leader early or looking to come on strong in the stretch. This is his third straight race starting from the double digits.

11- Poison Arrow (Mb Stables, ridden by R L Moore)- In looking at the list of past Haskell winners, there is a name missing: Mb Stables. It may be time for the trainer to finally earn that Haskell trophy, as Poison Arrow seems like the horse to beat in here. For as good as the others may be in here, Poison Arrow has established himself as the top male three-year-old in the game even if he did not win a TC race. He won four preps in a row, including the Fountain Of Youth and the AR Derby, and then was narrowly defeated in the KYD when Bad Debt got the head bob on him at the wire. One month later, he was third in the BEL and will be ready to roll here. Be looking for him in the stretch!

12- Key To The Forest (Alydar Stables, ridden by F T Alvarado)- Most of his early career saw him run against FL breds, but he would run in a couple KYD preps this spring. He didn’t earn anything in those races but was not badly defeated in either of them. After briefly cutting his distance, Key To The Forest would take part in the BEL and ended up with a midpack finish after running near the back most of the way. He works well and seems to have the potential, but he needs to step up a little more when taking on this type of opposition.

Prediction: 11-4-10-6

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES