A total of 29 invites have gone out for the $1 million
Haskell Invitational, centerpiece of the racing season at Monmouth Park, to be
renewed for the 45th time on Sunday, July 29.
Headlining the group of 3-year-olds likely to contest the
mile and an eighth Haskell is Bodemeister, winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby
and runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. The speedy son of Empire Maker is conditioned
by Bob Baffert, who has captured a record five Haskells throughout his career,
including the last two editions with Lookin at Lucky in 2010 and Coil last
year.
Also likely for this year’s Haskell is Dullahan, victor of
the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes and third in this year’s Kentucky Derby. Dullahan is trained by Dale Romans, who
finished second in last year’s Haskell with Shackleford.
In addition to the Grade 1 Haskell on July 29, that day’s
racing card includes three other graded stakes:
$200,000 Grade 2 Molly Pitcher; $150,000 Grade 3 Oceanport; and, Grade 3
$150,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker. The day
also features the $100,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes, $100,000 Regret Stakes,
$100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes and $100,000 Majestic Light Stakes.
The entire list of invites, to date, for this year’s Haskell
is:
Alpha Le
Bernardin
Atigun Liaison
Battle Hardened Macho Macho
Blueskiesnrainbows My Adonis
Bodemeister Neck ‘n Neck
Cogito Nonios
Cozzetti Paynter
Dullahan Prospective
Easter
Gift Rousing
Sermon
Fast
Falcon Stealcase
Gemologist Street Life
Good
Morning Diva Teeth of the
Dog
Handsome
Mike Tiger Walk
Hansen Went
the Day Well
Holy
Candy