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Favorites have performed splendidly in the Haskell Invitational, winning 10 of the past 14 years in Monmouth Park’s premier stakes. Six consecutive favorites scored starting in 1994 when Holy Bull returned the lowest win payoff — $2.40.
In all 18 post time choices haven’t disappointed in the 40 races. Big Brown likely will be the odds-on choice in the $1 million event on Aug. 3 at 1 1/8 miles.
“The Haskell is a race (at) a racetrack that I think is more suitable to him, a distance that I now feel comfortable with and it allows us, more importantly, to get another race in between the Breeders’ Cup,” co-owner Michael Iavarone told Associated Press Saturday.
“The race fits his style,” co-owner Paul Pompa Jr. had said earlier. “Monmouth is a speed-favoring track and it’s comparable to Gulfstream Park, which Big Brown is fond of,” referring to his two overpowering wins at the South Florida track, including the Florida Derby.”
“I think the spacing is ideal,” Iavarone said. “If you go to the Travers, I think the spacing becomes a little tight.”
So far, it appears the only committed challenger is Pyro, who finished eighth behind Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby. The son of Pulpit, who won the Northern Dancer on June 14, breezed five furlongs in 1:05 1/5 at Churchill Downs on June 30.
Truth Rules likely earned a berth in the Haskell with his last-to-first victory in Saturday’s 74th Long Branch Stakes, which traditionally produces invitations to horses that run well.
Truth Rules nipped favored Atoned by a head in 1:45 1/5 for the 1 1/16 mile while Z Humor was 3 1/4 lengths back in third. The son of Vindication recorded his second straight after breaking his maiden in June.
Horses that hit the board in Monmouth’s prep for the Haskell are 1-3-2 of 16 since ‘92.
Big Brown has been training at Aqueduct, breezing five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 on July 7. That was his second work since being eased in the Belmont Stakes following his victory in the Preakness.
There have been some whopping win payoffs in the Haskell since Balustrade surprised at $68.20 in the ‘68 inaugural when the race was for older horses.
The biggest payoff came in ‘85, four years after the Haskell was made an invitation-only $200,000 race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/18 miles. Skip Trial upset runner-up Kentucky Derby champ Spend a Buck and Belmont victor Creme Fraiche to return a record $73 on the front end.
Monmouth’s track record for the distance was established that same year by Spend a Buck in the Philip H. Iselin Stakes - 1:46 4/5. Joloe’s Halo equaled the mark a half-dozen years later in the same race, first run in 1884.
In ‘76, Majestic Light set the stakes record of 1:47 that was equaled by ‘87 Belmont winner Bet Twice who defeated Derby-Preakness winner Alysheba.
Majestic Light not only sired ‘82 Haskell champ Wavering Monarch, but another son, Simply Majestic, set the world record of 1:45 in ‘88 at Golden Gate Fields.
The Haskell is named for the first president and chairman of the Monmouth Park Jockey Club who served two decades until his death in 1966.
The track on the Jersey Shore has had more ups and downs than the stock market since opening on July 4, 1870. By 1890, it was completely rebuilt. The following year, Monmouth’s meeting was moved to Jerome Park in New York because of repressive legislation against gambling. Then the track was shuttered for more than half a century.
Amory L. Haskell, a General Motors vice president after serving in the Navy during World War I, led a successful fight in 1939 to legalize pari-mutuel wagering in New Jersey. Although World War II delayed construction of a new facility, the track finally was opened in ‘46.
Serena’s Song won the ‘95 race when the purse was hiked to $500,000. A year later, Skip Away banked most of the $750,000. In ‘97, Touch Gold triumphed when the purse was hiked to $1 million.
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