Huge Haskell Day card at Monmouth on Sunday

Monmouth Park’s biggest day of the year will be run on Sunday, as the $1,000,000 Haskell Invitational headlines a monster card at the Jersey Shore.  First post time is at 12:00pm EST and it’s a 14 race card.  The Haskell Invitational drew some of the top three year olds in the country as it always does, including this year’s Preakness Stakes winner Oxbow.  Oxbow has been given a little time off after his second place finish in the Belmont Stakes.  Regular rider Gary Stevens will be on board once again and Monmouth is traditionally a track that favors horses who are on or close to the lead, so his speed should be a big asset.  Vyjack and Verrazano should both add speed to the early mix as well.  Verrazano was simply masterful in winning the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth, and Vyjack is looking to get back in gear after some rough races during the Triple Crown series.  And with Monmouth a notoriously speed favoring track, the early pace could get hot.  Golden Soul was second in the Kentucky Derby and then didn’t run a jump in the Belmont, so it will be interesting to see how he takes to the Monmouth surface.  He will need a pace to run into, but he just may get it on Saturday.

The undercard is loaded with great stakes action as well.  The Oceanport on the grass sees a wide field of eleven.  Howe Great drew a tough outside post position, but he’s had to overcome tough posts before and still ran well.  The Grade 3 Regret is another big field, this time it’s sprinters going six furlongs and there is a ton of early gas in this heat.  The Monmouth Cup sees Grade 1 winners like Take Charge Indy and Hymn Book competing on the main track.  Take Charge Indy is trying to rebound from maybe the worst effort of his career in the Stephen Foster.  The Molly Pitcher drew the always powerful Joyful Victory who will make her Monmouth Park debut.  She’s looking to get back on track after she was thumped in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park.

BetPTC.com Selections for the Haskell

1. Oxbow
2. Golden Soul
3. Verrazano

Longshot: Micromanage

BetPTC.com Selections for the Oceanport

1. Howe Great
2. Swift Warrior
3. Silver Max

Longshot: Two Notch Road

BetPTC.com Selections for the Regret

1. My Place Anytime
2. Glamour Puss
3. Heir Stream

Longshot: Ann’s Smart Dancer

BetPTC.com Selections for the Monmouth Cup

1. Take Charge Indy
2. Hymn Book
3. Norman Asbjornoson

Longshot: Big Sur

BetPTC.com Selections for the Molly Pitcher

1. Joyful Victory
2. Funny Proposition
3. Wine Princess

Longshot: Lady Samurai

BetPTC.com Selections for the Matchmaker

1. Channel Lady
2. Minkashi
3. Laughing

Longshot: Starstruck

Intriguing match up in the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar

The Grade 2 San Diego Handicap is the primary local prep for the big $1,000,000 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.  Six horses will go to post in the San Diego Handicap, with Paynter being the high weight assignment at 122 pounds.  Paynter was magnificent in his comeback start last time out at Hollywood Park, but this will be a little more of an acid test to see how sharp he really is after his long battle with illness.  Rafael Bejarano will be on board for trainer Bob Baffert, who will also send out Liaison, who was just second behind Clubhouse Ride in the Californian.  Clubhouse Ride was a disappointing fourth behind Game on Dude in the Hollywood Gold Cup, so he’s getting some weight relief from both of the two Baffert runners on Saturday.  Clubhouse Ride is 1 for 3 career at Del Mar, however he hasn’t raced there since he became a top West Coast handicap division horse.  Not to be overlooked is Kettle Corn, who might have just ran the race of his life in defeat to Game on Dude when he was second in the Hollywood Gold Cup.

BetPTC.com Selections for the San Diego H.

1. Clubhouse Ride
2. Liaison
3. Kettle Corn

Longshot: Chief Havoc

BetPTC.com Selections for the Fleet Treat

1. Doinghardtimeagain
2. Sweet Marini
3. Zuzu’s Petals

Longshot: Qiaona

Saturday Stakes Action at BetPTC.com

Arapahoe Park

Race 8                  CTBA Breeders’ Oaks                         5:55pm EST

Del Mar

Race 4                  Fleet Treat Stakes                                6:40pm EST

Race 8                  San Diego Handicap                            8:40pm EST

Delaware Park

Race 6                  White Clay Creek Stakes                     3:45pm EST

Evangeline

Race 8                  DS Shine Young Memorial                   9:35pm EST

Monmouth Park (Sunday)

Race 3                  Teddy Drone Stakes                            12:54pm EST

Race 5                  Matchmaker Stakes                            1:52pm EST

Race 6                  Molly Pitcher Stakes                            2:22pm EST

Race 9                  Monmouth Cup Stakes                       3:59pm EST

Race 11                Regret Stakes                                   5:05pm EST

Race 12                Oceanport Stakes                              5:38pm EST

Race 13                Haskell Invitational                             6:20pm EST

Northlands Park

Race 5                  Northlands Oaks                                5:00pm EST

Race 6                  Edmonton Juvenile                            5:30pm EST

Race 7                  Princess Margaret Stakes                  6:00pm EST

Race 8                  Count Lathum Handicap                     6:30pm EST

Parx

Race 7                  Power By Far Handicap                       3:07pm EST

Race 8                  Crowd Pleaser Handicap                      3:34pm EST

Prairie Meadows

Race 8                  Prairie Meadows Handicap                 10:37pm EST

Santa Rosa

Race 9                  Wine Country Stakes                            8:14pm EST

Thistledown

Race 5                  Miss Ohio Stakes                             2:55pm EST

Race 7                  Ohio Derby                                       3:55pm EST

Woodbine

Race 8                  Toronto Cup                                     4:28pm EST

 

 

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