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It Gets Even Hotter on the Jersey Shore – It’s The Haskell

By on

7/22/2023

  13   MTH   The Haskell (GI) [BC]       

      Purse $1,000.000      3yo       1 1/8mile Dirt      123lbs

ok, ok, ok… enough with the “let Ali write all the races” stuff.  This is a man’s world, James Brown said so.  And we head out to the Jersey Shore for The Haskell (GI), a mile and an eighth main track stakes for the sophomores, and the big boys came out to play with that $1,000.000 purse on the line.

You know my saying of big races, big horses, big barns… and we have a few multi-entrant trainers for this one, and none bigger than Mb Stables, but… I took Quiet Return, the 2023 KYD (GI) winner as my top selection in this one.  The rhetorical question is, does he ever run a bad race?  and the answer is NO!  Never off the board, he’s already amassed over $3,000.000 in earnings, with only eleven races under his belt.  And I look for that bankroll to get larger after this one. 

We talked about the big barn, and I’ll give the second spot to Battle Plan.  I know, he’s only making his fifth lifetime start, but he’s won three, two of those were graded stakes and he had the lead in the BEL (GI) til the shadow of the wire.  He only gets better and could be the one to top. 

It’s a star-studded affair, as anyone would expect… so grab a cold snack and let’s get a good spot to take this one in!   

Here’s The Field –

1
   Hiei    Fractious    Franco M   123   8/1

He’s won four of nine starts but his only ’23 victory was a HUGE one as he took the BEL Stakes (GI) last out, closing well to win by a half-length at 12/1 odds.  I don’t think you get anything that good today, but he should be running down horses late, and he needs to avoid traffic…  again.

2
   Dayton    Pan Farms    Smith M E   123   10/1

Two wins but nothing better than a third vs stakes types, and that was in the Day

3
   Quiet Return    Allinthegate    Gaffalione T   123   5/2

The KYD (GI) winner came back to be second in the PRK (GI) (DH) and has been rested since that one.  He’s never been off the board in eleven starts, showing a 4-3-3 record, and that string of bullet works since certainly indicates that he’s still on his toes.  Rested off of the TC Trail, he could be tough to get past. 

4
   More Twist    Mb Stables    Velazquez J R   123   5/1

One of three for the Mb outfit and the gelding got his first win for the big barn last out in the Stephens (GI) at BEL, backing up to the sprint distance.  He won the Withers (GIII) at today’s route, and he closed to get the win last out… he’s good.

5
   Sirius Black    Arindel    Saez L   123   10/1

I love this guy, but when I pick him he runs bad, and when I don’t he’s tough… so I’ll give the barn a break today and look at others… with that being said, he won the Gun Runner and that was a key race, on the TC Trail, and he just missed in the FL Derby (GI) before an eighth in the KYD (GI) and a fourth in the BEL (GI). 

6
   Wisdom    Mb Stables    Silvera Ru   123   6/1

Lightly raced, but has four wins from five starts, and would be perfect if he hadn’t run into a buzz-saw in the Davis (that’s an inside joke between Mb and myself).  He looked good knocking out the Sexton Mile (GIII) to get his first graded win and could make some noise here as well. 

7
   Noble Faerie    Riggins Racing    Husbands P   123   10/1

Don’t get me started with three consecutive dead-heat finishes (just like real-life) … He tired in the KYD (GI) but came back to be third in the Affirmed (GIII) before winning the Marine (GIII) at WO, in his most recent.  He was second in both the Wood Mem (GII) and Gotham (GIII) on the TC Trail, so he can run with any group. 

8
   Hurricane Fly    Fractious    Geroux F   123   10/1

Got back to the winning ways taking the Winn (GIII) at CD on a sloppy main track in Louisville, but he’s also been close in a bunch of races… long/short/main/turf… he’d be tough if you ran chariot races in the parking lot.  This could be a big stage for him to really get after it. 

9
   Battle Plan    Mb Stables    Lopez P   123   4/1

Third part of the Mb trifecta and this lightly raced rascal is tough to the core… undefeated until that third in the BEL (GI), which is obviously nothing to be ashamed of.  He really looks like a tough cookie and is another that could make a name for himself in this one. 

10
   Sinamaulu    Arindel    Centeno D E   123   7/1

Just missed in the BEL (GI) with that solid runner-up effort, which was a far cry from his last in the KYD (GI)… he won the Rub (GIII) on a wet surface, so he looks to be all racehorse and could post a big threat when they turn for home in this one. 

11
   Aint No Easy Way Out    TwinTowersRacing    Jaramillo E   123   15/1

Only a maiden win and he’s been struggling vs. Alw types, so this step up in class and distance is a real head-scratcher.  He could upset the applecart, but I think the tote will light up if he does. 

12
   High In Hollywood    The Freakshow    Wilson E J   123   10/1

Had a big win in the Lexington (GIII) and was fourth in the KYD (GI) only to flatten out a bit in the BEL (GI), running ninth in that one.  Still, with only eight lifetime starts, this one has a ton of room to grow, and could be a sleeper… don’t ignore him. 

13
   Winter Book    Fractious    Cedillo A   123   7/1

Got his second win and first stakes score last out in the Affirmed (GIII) at SA, where he closed like a train in the late stages to get home on top.  He can show a late turn of foot, and they may have him on his toes right now, so be careful. 

14
   Indian Summer  

 Diablo Diablo

            

  – Scratch  –

COZMAN  3 / 9             Willie’s Green Card    9 / 3 / 4      

 

 

 

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Categories: BC 2021-2023