Haskell Invitational Top Contenders
by Bodog Racebook | Jul 25 2011
The 44th running of the $1M Gr. 1 Haskell Invitational will take place on Saturday, July 31 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, NJ. The premier summer race for 3-year-olds, the 1 1/8 mile Haskell Invitational has attracted Shackleford, Ruler and Ice and Pants on Fire.
Shackleford has been one of the pleasant surprises of the 2011 3-year-old crop. After qualifying for the Kentucky Derby off a pair of solid performances at Gulfstream Park (fifth in the Gr. 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes Feb. 26 and runner-up in the Gr. 1 Florida Derby April 3), the Dale Romans trainee led the field in the Run for the Roses until faltering in the stretch run. But he and regular rider Jesus Castanon made no mistake in the second leg of the Triple Crown series: they teamed up for Shackleford's biggest career win in the Gr. 1 Preakness Stakes. A similar front-running attempt in the Gr. 1 Belmont just three weeks later netted a fifth place finish. Shackleford has been training brilliantly at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Haskell Invitational: the son of Forestry has posted back-to-back bullet works of 5 furlongs. He has won three career races from eight starts and has earned $1,501,666 for owners Mike Lauffer and Bill Cubbedge.
While most stories leading up to the Belmont Stakes focused on the rubber match between Kentucky Derby champion Animal Kingdom and Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford, Ruler on Ice went into the Belmont Stakes with 24-1 odds as a relative unknown: aside from his maiden-breaking victory in Oct. 2010, he had only been to the winner's circle for an allowance race. He had also never faced grade 1 competition before. But this son of Roman Ruler bided his time in stalking position before making a perfectly timed drive for the finish to win the 1 ½ mile race. Owned by George and Lori Hall and trained by Kelly Breen, Ruler on Ice should have a home-track advantage for the Haskell Invitational. His last four workouts have been at Monmouth Park – the latest a 5-furlong breeze timed in 1:02.60. Ruler on Ice has earned $766,500 in seven career starts and is 3-2-1.
Another of Breen's 3-year-olds headed to the starting gate off a victory is Pants on Fire. This 3-year-old Jump Start colt enjoyed a strong early campaign, earning his berth to the Kentucky Derby off a win in the Gr. 2 Louisiana Derby March 26 at Fair Grounds. However, his lungs bled during the Kentucky Derby and he finished ninth. Despite the setback, Pants on Fire made a quick recovery: he trained so well that his connections were even able to squeeze in a prep race for the Haskell: the Gr. 3 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park June 18, a race that Pants on Fire won by two lengths. Pants on Fire has earned a career $798,100 and has a record of 10-3-3-1.
Concealed Identity, JJ's Lucky Train, Astrology and Rattlesnake Bridge are also among the expected for the Haskell Invitational.
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