Haskell Stakes: Betting advice, post positions, odds and analysis

OCEANPORT - By the time the final notes of Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run reverberate through the Monmouth Park grandstand, and the field hits the track to warm up for the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes early Saturday evening, the stage will be set for one of the more intriguing fields in the 56 running of the Grade 1 test.

Not only is there a Triple Crown race winner in Kentucky Derby champ Mage, there are some holdovers from the Triple Crown trail and some talented but lightly raced challengers expected to be in the starting game. Not to mention the fact that there are four Hall of Fame trainers - Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, Steve Asmussen and Richard Mandella - will have a horse in the race.

A year after Cyberknife slipped through on the rail and beat Taiba, it could be another dramatic finish in the 1 1/8-mile test, in a 3-year-old division that is wide open in the battle for a year-end championship.

The gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday, with post time for the first race at noon. The Haskell is scheduled to go postward at 5:45 p.m., the last of six stakes races on the card, including five graded stakes.

For now, here are the 2023 Haskell entrants, with post positions and morning line odds:

1. Geaux Rocket Ride 9/2

Trainer: Richard Mandella.

Jockey: Mike Smith.

Lightly raced colt did not run as a 2-year-old, and has won two of three starts this year. Comes in off a as the 1-2 favorite in the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita, after finishing second in the Grade 2 San Felipe behind eventual Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move. Mandella has not had a Haskell starter since winning it with Dixie Union in 2000.

2. Awesome Strong 30-1

Trainer: Jose Batista.

Jockey: TBD.

Was 4-for-4 over a four-month stretch at Gulfstream Park last year, bankrolling $420,000 from a trio of impressive wins in listed stakes by a combined 16 lengths. The speedster, who likes to be on the front end and could expected to push the pace, has been in Delgado's Monmouth Park barn, running fifth in a Delaware Park allowance race last time out after a nine-month layoff.

3. Salute the Stars 8-1

Trainer: Brad Cox.

Jockey: Joel Rosario.

Turned in a gritty performance in winning the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes on the Haskell Day Preview card, nailing Kingsbarns late with rush over the final furlong, picking up a 93 Beyer Speed Figure. Cox looks for a third straight Haskell after winning with Mandaloun and Cyberknife.  

4. Mage 3-1

Trainer: Gustavo Delgado.

Jockey: Javier Castellano.

Will be the seventh Kentucky Derby winner to compete in the Haskell, with only three having won it. Picked up a Beyer Speed Figure of 105 for the performance, tops in the Haskell field by a lot. Has gotten four workouts in since finishing third in the Preakness. Mage’s sire, Good Magic, won the Haskell in 2018.

5. Tapit Trice 3-1

Trainer: Todd Pletcher.

Jockey: Luis Saez.

One of two Grade 1 winners in the field along with Mage, earning the only other triple-digit Beyer in the Haskell field with a 100 for winning the Blue Grass Stakes. A closer who could benefit from a hot pace up front, rallying from last to finish seventh in the Kentucky Derby, and third in the Belmont.   

6. Howgreatisnate 20-1

Trainer: Elizabeth Dobles.

Jockey: Paco Lopez.

Has been pointed towards the Haskell since winning the $100,000 Long Branch Stakes on opening Day. Finished third in the $150,000 Pegasus on June 17, beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Salute the Stars. Is one of two Haskell runners stabled at Monmouth Park. Lopez is a nine-time Monmouth riding champ, and replaces Jairo Rendon. 

7. Extra Anejo 5-1

Trainer: Steve Asmussen.

Jockey: Tyler Gaffilione.

Comes off a 6 1/4-length victory in a $127,000 allowance race at Ellis Park on June 10 in third career start. The $1.35 million yearling purchase by owners Winchell Thoroughbreds is a son of Into Mischief, sire of Haskell winners Authentic (2020) and Mandaloun (2021). Asmussen won the Haskell in 2009 with the filly Rachel Alexandra.

8. Arabian Knight 5/2

Trainer: Bob Baffert.

Jockey: John Velazquez.

Purchased by Zedan Racing for $2.3 million as a 2-year-old, this Uncle Mo colt has won his two career starts by a combined 13 3/4 lengths, including a 5 1/2-length score in the Grade 3 $750,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn. But the Haskell will be his first start in six months, as Baffert seeks his 10th Haskell win.