Zayat Stable's American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) already cemented his name in history when he became only the 12th horse to win the Triple Crown, but the bay looks to add to his legacy Sunday in the GI Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth Park. This will be the Bob Baffert trainee's first start since his romp in the GI Belmont S. June 6. The morning line 1-5 favorite–who could very well be backed down to 1-9 if the local reception he has received since arriving in New Jersey is any indication–will start from the four hole, but is not without worthy adversaries, perhaps in part due to the $750,000 purse bump to $1.75 million the race received. Assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes, however, is unconcerned with the competition. “We just want him to get a good break, get to the outside, and work his way around there,” Barnes offered. “If he gets a clean trip, he'll do the rest.”
GII Holy Bull S. winner Upstart (Flatter) will make his first afternoon appearance since finishing a puzzling 18th in the GI Kentucky Derby. The dark bay was controversially disqualified and placed second in the GII Fountain of Youth S. in February and was runner-up in the GI Florida Derby Mar. 28 before that disappointing effort in the Derby. He draws the rail here and is given a 6-1 chance on the morning line, and appears capable of contending with the favorite on his best day. The 105 Beyer Speed Figure he earned for his Holy Bull romp–also off the bench–matches the best American Pharoah has received to date, and the 108 he got for the Florida Derby is the field's best. The Rick Violette, Jr. pupil, who bypassed Saturday's GII Jim Dandy S. for this, fired a :47.20 (1/109) warning shot for this over the Spa main track July 25. “He could not be coming in to the race any better,” said Violette. “We'll ship first thing in the morning and show up at The Shore ready to go.”
Mr. Jordan (Kantharos), a 'TDN Rising Star,' will represent the hometown contingent. The grey has never been out of the exacta in six career starts. He finished runner-up in Gulfstream's Tamarac S. Feb. 27 and was DQ'd from first to second in the Tarpon S. Apr. 25 before annexing the GIII Pegasus S., a local prep for this event, June 21.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has three Haskell wins already to his credit, has three chances to inch closer to Baffert's record seven wins. He'll saddle 'Rising Star' Competitive Edge (Super Saver), Nonna's Boy (Distorted Humor) and Dontbetwithbruno (Tiz Wonderful). Competitive Edge was one of 2014's most exciting juveniles, as he romped on debut at Saratoga last July before cruising to a 5 3/4-length tally in the GI Hopeful S. Sidelined for the rest of the season, he picked right up where he left off with an 8 1/4-length drubbing of Mr. Jordan in the Tamarac, and facile score in Churchill's GIII Pat Day Mile May 3. Cut back for the seven-panel GII Woody Stephens S. June 6, he was a no-excuse last of six at odds on, but appears to be working very forwardly at Saratoga since that outing. Nonna's Boy was second in Belmont's Gold Fever S. May 1, third in the Easy Goer S. there June 6 and finished ahead of stablemate Dontbetwithbruno to take Monmouths' turfy Lamplighter S. July 18. Dontbetwithbruno completed the Pegasus S. superfecta before his effort in the Lamplighter last out.
Donegal Racing's Keen Ice (Curlin) has only one lifetime victory, but has performed well in a number of graded stakes, including a third in the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 21 and fourth in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 28. He was seventh in the Derby and rallied to complete the trifecta in the Belmont.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
