Haskell

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - Though an impressive win in the GI Haskell S. helped make Cyberknife (Gun Runner) the second choice on the morning line for Saturday's GI Runhappy Travers S., trainer Brad Cox agreed with the question: Is your colt underappreciated? "I think he is a little bit, given the fact he's won two Grade Is," Cox said. Very quickly, Cox made it clear that he was not quibbling that the linemaker for the 153rd Travers figured that Epicenter (Not This Time) would have the lowest odds by his...

Damon's Mound (Girvin) has the feel of an inspiring story for our sport, as the David who landed his slingshot squarely on the forehead of Goliath in the keynote juvenile showdown of the summer. The family that bred his first five dams had turned down big money for their spectacular Churchill debut winner, and their fidelity to minor-league trainer Michelle Lovell (16 winners from 88 starters in 2022) paid off handsomely when Damon's Mound readily beat the vaunted Gulfport (Uncle Mo), who has already been reserved a slot in the...

Barry "The Sniper" Spears, a successful handicapping tournament player, public handicapper, podcast host and influential voice in the world of horse racing Twitter, joined the latest episode of Bettor Things with Joe Bianca this week for a wide-ranging conversation on topics inside the sport and out. Spears has been an outspoken advocate for better minority representation in racing, and talked to Bianca about the importance of pointing out the subtle racism that the industry has been slow to address over the years. Spears and Bianca also discussed the good, bad...

Brad Cox joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to recap Cyberknife's victory in the GI Haskell and discuss his graded stakes entries for this weekend.

Michael Beychok, the 2012 National Handicapping Championship winner, has made plenty of headlines this year. A well-known, outspoken horseplayer, Beychok joined the latest episode of Bettor Things with Joe Bianca this week to talk about his class-action suit against Bob Baffert surrounding the since-vacated 2021 Kentucky Derby victory of Medina Spirit, his vow to move his handle to sports betting in response to drug issues in racing, the approach to tournament play that helped him win the NHC, his day job as a political consultant and more. Also this week,...

Michael Beychock, the 2012 National Handicapping Championship winner, has made plenty of headlines this year. A well-known, outspoken horseplayer, Beychok joined the latest episode of Bettor Things with Joe Bianca this week to talk about his class-action suit against Bob Baffert surrounding the since-vacated 2021 Kentucky Derby victory of Medina Spirit, his vow to move his handle to sports betting in response to drug issues in racing, the approach to tournament play that helped him win the NHC, his day job as a political consultant and more. Also this week,...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown were both quite busy Saturday morning at Saratoga, working some of their respective stables' top stars. GI Belmont S. runner-up Nest (Curlin) turned in her final breeze Saturday morning before her rematch with Secret Oath (Arrogate) July 23 in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said the filly "worked really well" after she covered five furlongs in company with champion Corniche (Quality Road) in 1:01.44 under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. on the main track. Secret...

'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) will contest next Saturday's GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S., trainer Bob Baffert confirmed to Monmouth Park officials Friday. The $1.7-million FTFMAR purchase by Zedan Racing Stables took the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby in just his second start, but was last seen finishing 12th in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7. Those last two starts came for trainer Tim Yakteen, who took over training of the colt during Baffert's recent suspension. "I hadn't seen him in a long time. I'm happy with the way...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - With the $1.25 million GI Travers S. on Aug. 27 as his summer goal, trainer Chad Brown said Thursday morning that he is close to declaring what path his GI Preakness S. winner Early Voting (Gun Runner) will take to Saratoga's biggest race. Brown has two options: send the colt to Monmouth Park to face unbeaten stablemate Jack Christopher (Munnings) in the GI Haskell Invitational S. on July 23 or wait a week and race him against another stablemate, GI Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Zandon (Upstart)...

Tickets for the TVG.com Haskell S., Monmouth Park's showcase race, will go on sale Saturday, May 28, starting at 11:30 a.m. The 55th edition of the $1-million race for 3-year-olds, to be held Saturday, July 23, headlines a stakes-filled card that includes the GI United Nations, the GIII Monmouth Cup, the GIII Molly Pitcher, the GIII WinStar Matchmaker and the Wolf Hill. First race post time on Haskell Day is noon. All tickets for Haskell Day (except for the Dining Club Buffet and Lady's Secret Cafe) may be purchased on...

He has yet to run this year, which has turned GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Corniche (Quality Road) into the forgotten horse in the 3-year-old male division. That, however, may be about to change. Corniche has had two recent works at WinStar Farm and, according to Marette Farrell, an advisor to owners K.C. Weiner and Peter Fluor, the colt will return to the racetrack within a couple of weeks. "His last work at WinStar [four furlongs in :48.94 last Saturday], they said that it was an 'A' work," Farrell said....

Led by the $1-million TVG.com GI Haskell S., Monmouth Park is set to offer $8.135 million in stakes races when the track kicks off its 77th season Saturday, May 7. This year's race meet, which runs through Sept. 17, will feature 50 total stakes, 10 graded events, and nine stakes restricted to New Jersey-bred horses. Several stakes will see purse boosts in 2022, including the GI United Nations, which goes from $500,000 to $600,000 and is now double its purse from just two years ago; the GIII Monmouth Cup going...