Ashley Durr

OCEANPORT, NJ--A lot has been made about the fact that Ocelli (Connect) has yet to win in nine prior careers starts. Despite that fact, the handsome colt's career earnings already stand at over $800,000 and the sole maiden in Saturday's GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes will try to change that narrative while facing six others, including 2-1 morning-line favorite and Grade I winner Further Ado (Gun Runner), a impressive last-out winner in the GIII Matt Winn Stakes. A 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at...

As the industry-wide debate over the Triple Crown's spacing grows increasingly loud, Whit Beckman is choosing to listen to his horse. Ocelli (Connect), the gutsy colt who defied 70-1 odds to finish third in the GI Kentucky Derby after drawing into the big event just two days beforehand, is one of three Derby contenders preparing to take on the second leg of the Triple Crown. Should he find the winner's circle, he would become the first maiden to win the GI Preakness Stakes since 1888. Beckman's confidence to swim against...