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It would have a most historic race. During the past 41 editions of the Haskell, 3-year-olds that captured 10 Triple Crown events visited the Monmouth Park winner’s circle. None of the past 39 West Virginia Derby champs even won a Triple Crown race.
In 1987, Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner Alysheba hooked up again with Bet Twice, who had denied him the Triple Crown by taking the Belmont Stakes. The son of Alydar came up short again to Bet Twice with pacesetter Lost Code finishing third, all separated by two necks.
Two years earlier, Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck clashed with Belmont winner Crème Fraiche, but were upset by Skip Trial. Not only did the son of Bailjumper return the biggest win payoff in Haskell history, $73, he set the current track record for 1 1/8 miles — 1:46 4/5.
Skip Trial caught Spend a Buck in the stretch and rocketed away to win by 3 3/4 lengths. The runner-up was a length better than Crème Fraiche.
This time around Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird will race at Mountaineer Park on Aug. 1 against lesser competition instead of facing Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird in the Haskell 2009.
The outcome will likely break the tie between Preakness-Belmont combatants — four each have triumphed in the Grade 1 event since the inaugural in ‘68.
Last year, Big Brown became the second Kentucky Derby champ to triumph. In ‘06, Bluegrass Cat shed his always-a-bridesmaid mantel when he posted the largest winning margin in history — seven lengths. He was runner-up to Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby and Jazil in the Belmont.
Lion Heart scored two years earlier after finishing second to Smarty Jones in the Derby and fourth in the Preakness.
The 42nd Haskell won’t be a two-horse affair between Rachel Alexandra and Summer Bird, warned Paul Grimm, editor of the Oceanport Racing Report (http://oceanportracingreport.com). “They will have to bring their ‘A’ game after watching Atomic Rain. This race will be no walkover.”
That’s because the son of Smart Strike loves the track by the Jersey Shore where he broke his maiden last spring following a runner-up career debut. After finishing a dismal 16th in the Kentucky Derby to Mine That Bird, he returned to Monmouth and notched two straight victories.
First, Atomic Rain won an allowance race on June 6. Then on July 11 in the $175,000 Long Branch, traditional prep for the Haskell Invitational, he registered an impressive 4 3/4-length victory over Despite the Odds and heavily favored Papa Clem.
It was a big turnaround for Atomic Rain because he had finished more than 24 lengths behind fourth-place Papa Clem in the Kentucky Derby.
“This race should be one of the best of the year and the place will be packed to see the filly,” Grimm said. More than 40,000 have turned out for Monmouth’s showcase event the past 11 years.
Top attendance is 53,638 in ‘03 when Peace Rules defeated Sky Mesa and Funny Cide, the Derby-Preakness winner.
Filly Rachel Alexandra is attempting to become the second filly to visit the winner’s circle. In ‘95, Serena’s Song whipped 10 males when the race was hiked to $500,000. Two years later, Belmont winner Touch Gold triumphed when the purse was increased to $1 million.
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