Haskell Stakes Exacta Picks & Plays | Monmouth Park 2024

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With no shortage of certainty in his Belmont Stakes-winning horse Dornoch and in his rider Luis Saez, trainer Danny Gargan is confidently anticipating Saturday’s $1 million, Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park for top class sophomores.

The Haskell, which will be contested at 1 1/8 miles, is a “Win and You’re In” for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 2, and the outcome should help clarify what is currently a cloudy picture in the 3-year-old chase for divisional honors.

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“He looks better now than he did going into the Belmont,” said Gargan. “We were fighting a skin disease going into the Belmont to the point where we had to walk for a couple of days. He’s coming into the race as good as we can have him.

“He’s training really well. We love how he’s doing. He just keeps doing more and keeps improving.”

Dornoch is owned by West Paces Racing, R.A. Hill Stable, Bel Mar Racing and Breeding, MLB All-Star Jason Werth’s Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables.

The son of 2018 Haskell winner Good Magic comes into this test after beating fellow competitor Mindframe by a half-length in the Belmont.

In his previous effort in the Kentucky Derby, he drew the disadvantageous inside post position and endured a trip so terrible that it compromised any chance he might have had.

“He wants to win. It’s not his fault (he has just the one Grade 1 on his resume),” said Gargan. “In the Derby he was eliminated early. You’ve got to shake it off. We never lost faith in him”.

Neither did Saez, who has been aboard Dornoch for his last six races following a runner-up finish in the Sapling Stakes on Aug. 23. The jockey also proved prophetic.

“The person who thought he’d win more than anybody was our jock. Luis got off him in the Derby and said, ‘Don’t worry. We’re going to win the Belmont. He was the best horse today. I never got to let him run. You didn’t get beat far. If he’d had any trip he would have won today,’ ” Gargan said. “Luis got off him with nothing but confidence and he had the same confidence going into the Belmont. Luis is a really good rider. He’s unbelievable and he fits this horse perfect.”

It’s not just the trainer and ownership group who are happy to have Saez, who won the 2019 Haskell with Maximum Security and has a record of 1-1-1 in four prior attempts, on the team. Additional tribute comes from an unimpeachable source.

“Last winter Ramon Dominguez told me that you don’t see often a rider who fits a horse like this,” said Gargan when mentioning the Hall of Fame jockey who won just shy of 5,000 races before injury forced him into premature retirement. “Ramon said ‘You have the best rider for your horse’. That meant a lot. For him to go out of his way and say that this jock fits your horse better than any jock could fit him. Ramon said he fits this horse better than he would have and I think he’s one of the top five riders who ever lived.

“That’s the ultimate compliment.”

Dornoch did not get the optimum draw in the Haskell. He and Saez will have to break from the disadvantageous rail again, this time in what will possibly be an eight-horse field.

“We were hoping to get an outside draw,” said Gargan. “We’re just hoping to get a nice clean break and everyone rides safe and nobody does anything stupid. If no one does anything stupid coming over and if he can break and get up in the race we’ll see a big performance from him.

“We have the same confidence here (as before the Belmont). The other day (in the Belmont) Mindframe got a little wandering around and ran a little green. He got past us turning for home. He got about a half-length in front of us. But when horses come to my horse, he re-rallied. Dornoch likes to fight. Luis thinks he if he gets up there, he’s hard to get by.”

In addition to the pair from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in Midframe and Pegasus winner Tuscan Sky, the Haskell Stakes field includes Grade 1 Champagne Stakes winner Timberlake, Long Branch Stakes winner Sea Streak, the locally-based Jasper’s Pride and Parx invader Just Step On It.

Pletcher also entered Grade 1 winner and reigning Juvenile Male champion Fierceness but it remains a race day decision if he will be in the Haskell Stakes starting gate.

“Mindframe is a seriously good horse. Fierceness is a champion. Timberlake is a really good horse, too,” said Gargan. “There are three Grade 1 winners in there and Mindframe is just waiting to win a Grade 1. It’s a big-time race if everybody shows up. Hopefully, everybody gets to run their race and the best horse wins.”

Dornoch, out of the Big Brown mare Puca, is a full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, the runner-up in last year’s Haskell. His Belmont win flattered his pedigree.

“This horse has been hyped all year. He’s been highly regarded. Earlier in the year there was a lot going on,” said Gargan. “Now that’s he won the Grade 1 it’s more relaxed. We know he’s going to be a stallion now and he’s already got the Grade 1. Winning the Belmont was a dream come true. We’ve got the cake. We’d just like a little more icing before he goes to stud.

“We’re really proud of this horse. We’d love for him to be the 3-Year-Old champion. If he wins this race he’ll be leading the division. He might be leading it now. This race here could put him in a pretty good spot (at this point in the season).”

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