Haskell Draws a Strong Field

A fine field of sophomores will converge on the biggest race on the Monmouth Park calendar on Sunday, the $1 million Haskell Invitational S. (G1). Wood Memorial S. (G1) star Verrazano, whose lone loss came in the Kentucky Derby, was a dominant prep winner of the Pegasus S. (G3) in preparing for this and looms large for conditioner Todd Pletcher. The son of More Than Ready has very good early foot and should this trip no problem as he is proven at nine furlongs.

Preakness S. (G1) winner and Belmont S. (G1) runner-up Oxbow has trained forwardly as of late and is obviously a player in this test. The D. Wayne Lukas pupil has really thrived with activity and the son of Awesome Again would be of no surprise in this run. Preakness and Derby third Mylute seems poised to have another top run for trainer Tom Amoss, and the son of Midnight Lute could thrive at this trip. Derby runner-up Golden Soul, Easy Goer S. victor Power Broker, who will aim to give Bob Baffert a fourth straight win in this race, impressive Long Branch S. star Micromanage and Swaps S. (G2) hero Chief Havoc, add to the fine depth of this headliner.

A fine undercard is on tap for the card here on Sunday, with five stakes races accompanying the big one - the $200,000 Molly Pitcher S. (G2); $200,000 Monmouth Cup S. (G2); $150,000 Matchmaker S. (G3); $150,000 Oceanport S. (G3) and the $100,000 Teddy Drone S. 

The Haskell, with an estimated post of 6:20pm ET, will go as race 13 on a 14-race program.  First post slated for noon ET. 

Bet the Haskell Invitational and all the Monmouth Park horse racing online with TwinSpires.com and watch it live on TwinSpiresTV!

Other Haskell News

Baffert will seek fourth straight Haskell with Power Broker

Trainer Bob Baffert will look to continue his stranglehold upon Monmouth Park's signature race when he sends out Power Broker in Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational. The Hall of Fame trainer has saddled a record six winners, including the last three runnings, of the Grade 1 event.

Baffert announced the colt's participation via twitter following a workout on Del Mar's Polytrack Tuesday.

"Power Broker going to Haskell," Baffert tweeted after Power Broker traveled five furlongs in 1:00 4/5. "Worked great today."

Baffert has captured the last three editions of the 1 1/8-mile Haskell with Paynter, Coil and Lookin At Lucky.

Winner of the Grade 1 FrontRunner at Santa Anita last October, Power Broker concluded his two-year-old campaign with a fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The chestnut son of Pulpit was no factor when making a belated three-year-old debut, finishing fifth in the Santa Anita Derby, but rebounded to take an entry-level allowance at Churchill Downs on May 10.

Power Broker returned to stakes competition with a gusto last time out, drawing off to a 3 3/4-length score in the June 8 Easy Goer at Belmont Park. The Gary and Mary West color bearer registered a career-best 102 BRIS Speed rating.

2013 Haskell Invitational Probables

Monmouth Park Racetrack  2013 Racing Season

Dates: Monmouth Park’s meet gets underway on Saturday, May 11, and runs through Sunday, Oct. 6.  Racing will then shift north for all turf cards at the Meadowlands through Breeders’ Cup Saturday on Nov. 2.

Monmouth Park 2013 Racing Schedule: Through the month of May, live cards will be run on Saturdays and Sundays, plus a Memorial Day card on May 27. Starting on Friday, May 31, Monmouth will have live racing three days a week, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The 2013 meet goes through Sunday, Oct. 6.

Monmouth Park 2013 Post Times:  Post time for the 2013 racing season is set for 12:50pm ET every day except Haskell Day, when the first post will be 12 noon ET.

Monmouth Park Racetrack Information

Main track (dirt): 1 mile, oval
Width of track: 100 feet
Composition: 12 inches of aggregate sand drainage and 12 inches of crushed traprock screenings. The cushion is five inches of Racetrack B Mix, composed of 83 percent sand and 17 percent loam.

Turf course: 7 furlongs with two chutes - one for five and a half-furlong races, and the other for 1 1/16-mile and 1 1/8-mile races
Length of stretch from last turn to finish line: 990 feet
Width of horse racing track: 90 feet wide its entire circumference, with the chutes each 100 feet wide
Banking: 2 percent on the straightaways and 5 percent on the turns
Composition: Mixture of four kinds of bluegrass and Manhattan 2 rye grass

About Monmouth Racetrack

Monmouth Park Racetrack, located in Oceanport, New Jersey, is touted as the "The Shore's Greatest Stretch".

Monmouth is home to the $1 million Haskell Invitational, the richest invitational thoroughbred horse race in North America. The annual race attracts the finest jockeys and Triple Crown horses in the country. The course includes a lavish paddock, located behind the clubhouse, and consists of a 16-stall oak saddling enclosure leading to the beautiful, tree-shaded English Walking Ring. In the ring, horses are paraded to the public and jockeys receive last-minute instructions. This is easily one of the most picturesque and relaxing areas at Monmouth Park.

The backstretch not only houses approximately 1,600 horses in 38 barns, but also serves as a small community for the horsemen and track employees. Located in the center of the backstretch, in an area called "The Quadrangle", is the Frenchman's Kitchen, where the motto is "Eat your betting money, but never your eating money."

The horse racing track's grandstand is capable of seating 13,000, while the clubhouse can seat 5,000. The track offers a free wagering seminar daily at noon. Monmouth also offers its "Dawn Patrol", a popular tour that occurs on Thursday and Friday mornings from June to August. The two-hour tour includes a tram ride, horse-training session, visit with jockeys and a discussion of the track's history. Monmouth also offers Family Day on Sundays. With clowns, face painting, pony rides, and other activities, children can enjoy the day at the races. Monmouth offers a wide array of dining options, including: The Salvator Bar and Grill, The Dining Terrace, Lady's Secret Café, Paddock Sports Bar, Monmouth Café, The Clubhouse, Turf Club and the Rivalry Room.

Monmouth Park Racetrack played host to the Breeders' Cup World Championships of thoroughbred horse racing on October 26th and 27th, 2007. The 11-race event concluded with the 24th running of the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, where Curlin reigned supreme.