Haskell day at Monmouth Park! Solid 14 race card and six straight stakes to end the day. The Haskell rewards 100 points to the winner for entry into the Kentucky Derby. Good luck everyone playing along!
Race 1: CLAIMING $12,500 – $10,500 One Mile (Turf)
Picks: 4-8-13
(#4): He Will: Returns to preferred surface today and gets joe Bravo aboard for first time. Three of his seven wins have come at this distance. Should get a good pace in front of him. Will be coming on late.
(#8): Zinger: Drops from $25,000 to $12,500 level today. Stumbled at the start last time ht and never responded, group is in his favor today. Mid pack and his kick could be enough.
(#13) Kitten Street: Two of his three wins have come at Monmouth Park. Has good gate speed and could in front early on. Outside draw means he’ll be sitting on go from the start.
Race 2: WAIVER CLAIMING $5,000 1 1/16 (Dirt)
Picks: 6-5-8
(#6): River Belle: Winner of two straight starts, this mare is making her first start of 2020. She is in good form, has posted solid workouts in the mornings, and will be quick out of the gate. Should get good track position for the outside. Sitting on go.
(#5): Infinity Sky: Drops to the $5,000 level today. Won her only race going this distance. Trainer is 20% with horses second time in the barn. Good gate speed and if track is speed favoring, will be to her advantage.
(#8): Lucy’s Town: Ships in from New York for a hot trainer in Kelly Breen. Quick out of the gate, she could be challenging up front early on. Dropping to $5,000 level means this field is u her wheelhouse. Will be tough to beat.
Race 3: WAIVER CLAIMING $16,000 – $14,000Five Furlongs (Turf)
Picks: 2-5-10
(#2): Sunflower Girl: Making her first start of 2020 today, this filly has quick gate speed and could be in front early on. Trainer is 15% with horses off more than 90 days. Only career win came at this track and distance. Jose Ferrer is off to a flying start at the meet. Must use.
(#5): My Sister’s Keeper: Drops from $25,000 level to $16,000 today. A mid pack type of runner, she does her best running late. she has hit the board in five of six starts at this distance. A speed duel up from helps her chances.
(#10): Foxy’s Edge: got into early speed duel last start and faded. From the outside a change in tactics and new rider can help her get some redemption. Blinkers come off today and she could be more focused, in for the upset chance.
Race 4: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500 One Mile and Seventy Yards
Picks: 2-8-9
(#2): Wallercito: Makes his two turn debut on the dirt today and only win came on turf, but at the one mile distance.Trainer is 14% sprinting too routing. with his speed, he will be in front early on, and fro the inside can set the pace and go a long way. Jomar Torres is off to a fast start at this meet.
(#8): Best Choice: Won at this distance in five of her six career wins. Makes her second start in the Micheal Moore barn, who is 21% with horses second time in the barn. Will have to quick out of the gate, but distance helps her.
(#9): Chunnel: Goes back to dirt and a distance that suits his style. Five career wins at the distance, and speed that can stay til the end. Making second start with Gregory Sacco, he is 25% second time in the barn. Will have to work from the outside but have a good chance.
Race 5: ALLOWANCE ($47,500) 1 1/16 (Turf)
Picks: 5-6-4
(#5): Cordington: Makes her first time with new trainer Nick Caruso, who is 18% with horses first time in the barn. Closers have done fairly well over the Monmouth turf, this mare has a good closing kick and is back to a level she can compete at. Antonio Gallardo is aboard for the first time. Good jockey/trainer combo to start the meet.
(#6): O’Malley: Stretches back out to two turns for first time since August of last year. good gate speed and has Joe Bravo back aboard for first time in two years. Kelly Breen is 23% with horses 2nd off a layoff. she has some of the top beyer numbers in the field. Class can get it done.
(#4): Three of her five wins have come at the distance. Jerry Hollendorfer and Paco Lopez have made a strong team early on in the meet. Will need a good pace in front of her. The tight turns at Monmouth can be to her advantage.
Race 6: WAIVER CLAIMING $8,000 – $7,000 Six Furlongs
Picks: 2-4-9
(#2): Can U Handle This: Shipping up from Maryland, this filly is coming off a sharp win last out at Penn National. She has good gate speed and could be in front early on. If she gets alone on lead, she could be gone. Lowest level claimer of her career, this filly will be dangerous to win her second straight.
(#4): Lolanita: Drops to lowest level claimer of her career, and gets back to a distance she runs well at. Trainer is 20% when away from more than 60 days. Won a sharp claimer at Tampa Bay Downs on April 10th, settling mid pack before getting first run. A repeat of that performance makes her dangerous today.
(#9): Blue Blue Ice: Won her last start but drops in the claiming level for this spot today. Trainer is 33% when dropping in claimers after a win. All three wins have come at this distance. She is a mid pack stalker and needs a fast pace to get a shot late.
Race 7: CLAIMING $12,500 – $10,500 One Mile (Turf)
Picks: 10-6-13
(#10) Total Tap: Four of his seven career wins have come at this distance. Leading rider Paco Lopez jumps aboard. Won at the $16,000 level back in March and drops in the ranks today. Will sit right off the pace and get first run. Trainer is 29% when away for more than 60 days. Stands a good chance.
(#6): Wicked Boy: Two of his four wins have come here at Monmouth Park. Drops from $16,000 to $12,500 today, a class he fits well. The change in scenery will do him good. Trainer is 17% when more than 60 days away. Speed in front of him could come back and he’ll be there at the end.
(#13): Mr. Discretionary: Had a troubled trip in last start and was trapped in side. Now gets the far outside post and should get a better trip and more space to go. Has a win and two thirds in five starts at Monmouth. Trainer is 21% third off the layoff. If he can get a good even trip, he could be in for an upset.
Race 8: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT $59,375 6 Furlongs
Picks: 1-7-10
(#1): No Bull Jack Draws the inside post, quick gate speed, and drops back into state bred company gives this filly a big advantage over the rest. Been posting good workouts fro the gate and could change tactics go to front. Filly can take step forward in here.
(#7): Twisted Deeds: Making first start in 2020. Gets blinkers on and leading rider Paco Lopez. Trainer is 30% with first time blinkers. Will be sent early, with good gate drills including a fast four furlong work last week, she is ready to go.
(#10: Muzzle Tough: Making her first start in 2020, she was just caught on the wire in her career debut last time. Now, she comes back with solid works and gets Trevor McCarthy aboard. She will be fast early and could be around late.
Race 9: $150,000 G3 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes 1 1/8 (Turf)
Picks: 5-2-6
(#5): Beautiful Lover: 0 for 3 in 2020, but returns to Monmouth Park where she is a former stakes winner at the track. Multiple graded stakes placed, she drops down from Grade one company her last start to this spot. Joe Bravo returns aboard, who ode her to her only stakes win. Should get good pace in front of her, closing style could be best.
(#2) Feel Glorious: Makes her second start of 2020, in which she was a long ways 3rd behind Mean Mary in the New York Stakes. Trainer Christophe Clement is 20% second off the layoff. Very consistent in graded stakes company. Not worse than 3rd in four straight starts. Inside post can give her a ground saving trip and get first run.
(#6): Nay Lady Nay: Broke her maiden over the Monmouth turf course last summer. Troubled trip in the G3 Mint Julep last time out. It was her first start in six months, should be better second time back. Leading rider Paco Lopez aboard, will be tough in the end for Chad Brown.
Race 10: $300,000 G3 Monmouth Cup Stakes 1 1/8
Picks: 1-9-4
(#1): Global Campaign: Throw out the Blame Stakes last out, stumbled at the start and didn’t recover. Draws the rail today and get blinkers off. From the rail, he should be on go and could be up front early on. Has a win and a 3rd in two starts at the distance. Faces easier competition today than in past few starts. Like his chances.
(#9): Bal Harbour: Making his first start of 2020, and for new trainer Gregory Sacco, this gelding has the talent to be contender in this spot. Never worse than 3rd in four career starts at the Monmouth, he has run consistently well against graded stakes company. Mike Smith will be board, which is always a plus. Trainer is 15% with horses first time in the barn. He has run consistent high beyers his entire career. Will be tough.
(#4): Harpers First Ride: Shipping up from Maryland, this gelding is making his graded stakes debut today. Winner of three of his last four, this gelding has front end speed and has beaten graded stakes runners his last start. He posted a sharp four furlong work last week and reunites with Victor Carrasco today. He’s ready to go for an upset.
Race 11: $300,000 G1 United Nations Stakes1 3/8 (Turf)
Picks: 3-2-1
(#3): Muggsamatic: Making second start for trainer Mike Maker and coming off a stakes win at Gulfstream Park in June. Three of his ten lifetime wins have come at Monmouth Park. Has run fast beyers and good works coming in. Mike Maker has this former claimer in good form.
(#2): Standard Deviation: Returns to Monmouth Park where he is 2 for 2 over the turf course and the tight turns can be to his advantage. The wide turns at Belmont were not to liking, and he will get a good setup in front to get first run. Graham Motion has him ready to run a big one.
(#1): Arklow: The former G1 winner is coming in off six days rest after a poor run in the Elkhorn at Keeneland. He has run so consistent against the top of the division year in and out. He should be tough in here, especially with Mike Smith aboard. Gets to get a ground saving trip from the inside and if good enough, will be there at the end.
Race 12: $1,000,000 G1 Haskell Stakes: 1 1/8
Picks: 1-2-6
(#1): Dr. Post: The Belmont Stakes runner up is getting better with every start. He draws the rail today and is gonna get a good trip inside. Gets Joe Bravo aboard and trainer Todd Pletcher has in in peak form. He ran a 102 beyer speed figure in the Belmont Stakes. Pedigree suggests two turns is up his wheelhouse. Expect this to be his breakout race.
(#2): Authentic: Trainer Bob affect goes for his ninth Haskell win with Authentic. Works d a sharp five furlong drill last week. Very talented colt who is a multiple graded stakes winner already. Should be on the lead early on from inside. He won his two stakes races by combined 10 lengths. Last time out, he pressed a moderate pace and got outrun by Honor A.P. This should be a field to his liking. The distance is a question mark, could be better shorter. could be make or break for the Kentucky Derby.
(#6): Lebda: Shipping up from Maryland, he’s a multiple stakes winner this year in Maryland. After being away for 3 1/2 months, he was a better than looked 6th in the Ohio Derby. He pressed a hot pace and tired late. Secondoff the layoff, he should be more settled and if he gets the right pace, could be in line for an upset. His performances this year should make him part of your exotics.
Race 13: $75,000 Wolf Hill Stakes 5 1/2 Furlongs
Picks: 5-11-2
(#5): Dubini: Three of his five career wins have come at Monmouth Park. He has some of the fastest beyer numbers in the field, and gets Pace Lopez back in the saddle. Hot pace is expected in from of him. If he gets the right trip he should be flying late. All five career wins have come at this distance.
(#11) American Sailor: Shipping up from Maryland, this gelding is coming off a sharp allowance win at Laurel Park. He has won four of his last six starts and ten wins have come at this distance. Making his second start of 2020, he should be more focused and sharp going for his second straight win.
(#2): Lonhtwist: He was 6th beaten only four lengths in the G1 Jaipur at Belmont Park. He shortens up today and should show better speed than he did his past coupe starts. He has been working well coming in and if he’s good enough, will be there at the end.
Race 14: $250,000 G3 Molly Pitcher Stakes 1 1/16
Picks: 2-1-11
(#2): Royal Flag: This filly has won three races in a row, including a start against older mares last start, by a combined 17 1/2 lengths. She has a rockstar pedigree and is coming into this spot in tremendous form. She has work tremendously well in the mornings last few weeks and is sitting on go. Trainer Chad Brown is 30% shipping and 24% in graded stakes races this year. This could be her breakout race.
(#1): She’s a Julie: Scored the biggest win of her career last time out in the G1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park. Now, she comes to Monmouth for the first time and looks to establish her class over these others. She will get a good pace in front of her and sit mid pack, the tight turns will help her from inside and get ground saving trip. Steve Asmussen won this race a year ago with Midnight Bisou and is 21% with last out winners in 2020. Must use.
(#11): Horologist: The NJ-Bred returns home after a trip to California with not so good results. She comes home to a track where she is 4 for 4, and won last years Monmouth Oaks. First time with new trainer Bill Mott, Who is 13% with first timers in the barn, look for her to possibly go from the outside and get good position. She has the class and talent to hang around and go for the win.