Not only is $1 million on the line in Sunday’s Resorts
Casino Hotel Haskell Invitational, but perhaps an Eclipse Award for champion
3-year-old come year’s end. At least
that’s what trainers Dale Romans and Kelly Breen are hoping for following
Sunday’s Grade 1 contest.
“I think we’re all even,” said Romans referring to this
year’s 3-year-old crop. “If Ruler On Ice or our horse wins they’d have to be considered in the lead for 3-year-old
honors.”
Preakness winner Shackleford who is expected to arrive at
the Jersey Shore Tuesday evening, provided conditioner Dale Romans with two
bullet moves in his final preparations for New Jersey’s biggest race. On July 17, Shackleford went five furlongs in
:59 3/5 and came back one week later to go the same distance in :59 1/5. Both works were over a fast Churchill Downs
surface.
“His last two works were phenomenal,” Romans said. “He didn’t move a muscle in his last
work. He did everything on his own and
was full of energy afterwards.”
Romans, who saddled his first Haskell starter last year in
third-place finisher First Dude, will be on-track to saddle Shackleford in
Sunday’s mile and an eighth race.
Trainer Kelly Breen has his one-two combo of “Fire” and
“Ice” ready for Sunday’s race as he hopes to capture his first Haskell, having
finished second with his only other starter, Praying for Cash in 2006. Ruler On Ice and Pants On Fire had their
final tune-ups in company on Sunday afternoon between races at Monmouth, going
a half-mile in :47 3/5.
Pants On Fire, who enters the Resorts Casino Hotel Haskell
off a victory in the Grade 3 Pegasus on June 18, looks to score his first Grade
1 on Sunday.
“He’s doing so well,” Breen said. “His work was absolutely perfect.”
Pants On Fire captured the Louisiana Derby (G2) before a
ninth-place finish as the 8-1 second choice in the Kentucky Derby. A win by Pants On Fire in the Haskell could give
Breen two contenders for championship honors.
“I think Animal
Kingdom is a great horse and I think Shackleford is a great horse,” Breen said.
“But it’s the upcoming races that are going to decide it.”
Ruler On Ice, who enters the Haskell off his Classic win
in the Belmont, equally impressed his trainer in Sunday’s half-mile drill.
“I couldn’t be happier with how they both went,” Breen
said. “They’re ready.”
The past four runnings of the Resorts Casino Hotel Haskell
has produced five champions: Curlin, Big
Brown, Rachel Alexandra, Summer Bird and Lookin At Lucky.