There’s no hiding from it: we love our 3-year-old races in horse racing.  And The Haskell at Monmouth Park is no different.

This race falls in an interesting spot in the racing calendar: a full month and a half after the Belmont Stakes, and about five weeks ahead of the summer’s crowing three year-old race, the Travers. You couldn’t find a much better time in the calendar for it.

I’ll be taking in my first Haskell in person this weekend, in my first trip to Monmouth Park.  It’s a beautiful track (so I’ve heard) near the Jersey Shore, in a little town called Oceanport.

I’m intentionally staying at a shore-adjacent motor lodge, so it’ll be both quaint and smell like the sea.  Plus, obvious proximity to good pizza.  Let’s go.

But enough about my crappy travel plans - let’s meet the field for the Haskell, New Jersey’s Derby.

1. Dornoch.  5/2.        Jockey: Luis Saez.        Trainer: Danny Gargan.

Dornoch won what has now become the “did we know how good it was at the time” race of 2023, the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct back in December.  It featured a stretch duel between Dornoch and Kentucky Derby second-place finisher Sierra Leone, which Dornoch won.

He then started 2024 by winning the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, before back-to-back disappointing finishes in the Blue Grass and Kentucky Derby.  He rebounded to win the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. 

Trainer Danny Gargan has never wavered on this horse’s talent, and in my conversations with him, he thinks there’s plenty left in the tank. The post-position is bad for this article, as he’s my top pick.  Spoiler alert!

Comment: Top Selection.

2. Jasper’s Pride.  30/1.    Jockey: Jomar Torres.    Trainer: Chuck Spina.

Trainer Chuck Spina will send New Jersey-bred Jasper’s Pride to the gate and his betting number won't be anywhere near 30/1 — even in a short field.  This horse’s two wins this year are both in state-bred races, and both are sprinting. 

This horse has never run further than six furlongs; the Haskell is a 9-furlong race.  Expect him to finish last.

Comment: First Toss.

3. Tuscan Sky.  9/2.        Jockey: Javier Castellano.    Trainer: Todd Pletcher.

I want to make Tuscan Sky my top selection. Everything about him screams great second-half-of-the-year type.

After a disappointing attempt to qualify for the Kentucky Derby in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, trainer Todd Pletcher gave Tuscan Sky some time off, having him return in the qualifying race for the Haskell: The Pegasus.  He won that race with ease, and comes in in the middle of a form cycle. 

He should fire, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he wins.  If it turns out he loves Monmouth, watch out.

Comment: Must include.

4. Timberlake.  8/1.        Jockey: Flavien Prat.    Trainer: Brad Cox.

The wildcard of the weekend is Timberlake, who many of us were rooting for to make the Kentucky Derby field and force Justin to attend.  Alas, as with many things in life, no dice.

Timberlake won the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in late February, and will need to replicate that effort to have a shot on Saturday.   He was OK but not great in his next and final start to this point - the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

He comes in off an almost three and a half month layoff; will he fire?  Lean toward no, and have him as the first leave-out.

Comment: Just missed the cut.

6. Just Step On It. 30/1.    Jockey: Florent Geroux.    Trainer: Louis Linder, Jr.

Trainer Louis Linder, Jr. is a fine trainer in the mid-Atlantic and Just Step On It won his last start at Parx outside of Philadelphia.  Jockey Florent Geroux has won this race twice, in 2021 and 2022. 

All of that to say… this isn’t happening.  He’ll finish last or second-to-last.

Comment: Not happening.

7. Mindframe.  9/5.        Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.     Trainer: Todd Pletcher.

Mindframe is another late-bloomer, having run his first race at the end of March this year.  He dazzled on debut at Gulfstream Park, winning by over 13 lengths.

He backed it up during Derby week at Churchill Downs with another win, this one by over seven lengths.  Trainer Todd Pletcher thought enough to start him in the Belmont.

Had he straightened out at all in the stretch and simply run a more direct route to the finish line, he wins.  Instead, he showed his greenness, and finished a tight second to Dornoch. 

 He’ll be the favorite at post time — and I wouldn’t question anyone for wagering on him.

Comment: Obvious include.

8. Sea Streak.  20/1.        Jockey: Jairo Rendon.    Trainer: Eddie Owens, Jr.

The most interesting longshot in the race is Sea Streak, who won the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth.  Many of us assumed that experience would translate to last month’s Pegasus, but Sea Streak did everything wrong that day, and finished a disappointing fifth.

Horses, like people, have bad days; but he’s simply not up to the quality of this field as Tuscan Sky won the Pegasus and bested him by over 12 lengths.

Comment: Could finish top 3.

Del Mar is back

Del Mar returns this week, and the feature is the Grade 2 San Clemente, a one-mile grass race for 3-year-old fillies.  It’s a fun, full field, but watch two of the fillies.

Medoro (8-5) will be the favorite, and a deserved one.  She’s 4-for-4 lifetime, and has won twice at the distance, with both being in stakes company. She is as much of a favorite as a 12-horse field allows.  

The other is Isreamuscream, trained by Phil D’Amato.  She’s never gone the distance, but D’Amato is excellent at placing horses in spots where they stretch out well. 

Expect her to be part of the equation at the end Saturday.

Top picks: 10 - 6 - 3.

We’ll talk to you next week, as we continue our Del Mar previews and selections.  Until then!