Belmont Stakes (gr. I) runner-up Paynter and Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Gemologist each posted bullet works this week in advance of the 1 1/8-mile Haskell Invitational (gr. I) to be held at Monmouth Park July 29.
Paynter covered six furlongs handily in 1:13 1/5 over Del Mar's all weather track July 18. It was the fastest work of six horses at the distance.
On July 16, Gemologist breezed five furlongs in 1:00.88 over the dirt training track at Saratoga Race Course in the best of 25 moves at the distance.
Paynter's work was the third straight bullet he's fired and follows two over the dirt track at Santa Anita Park on July 4 and July 11.
"I don't know yet when Paynter will ship and arrive on the grounds," trainer Bob Baffert said in a release regarding the son of Awesome Again −Tizso, by Cee's Tizzy.
Baffert, who has won a record five runnings of the Haskell and took the last two with Coil in 2011 and Lookin At Lucky in 2010, trains Paynter for Zayat Stables.
Gemologist has not raced since his disappointing 16th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), but has been doing well since trainer Todd Pletcher put him back into training. Owned by WinStar Farm, the son of Tiznow out of the Mr. Prospector mare Crystal Shard went into the gate on the first Saturday in May with a perfect five-for-five record.
Pletcher captured back-to-back Haskells in 2006 with Bluegrass Cat and in 2007 with Any Given Saturday. Both of those colts were also owned by WinStar.
Dullahan, the winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) who finished third in the Kentucky Derby and seventh in the Belmont Stakes, has been training at Churchill Downs and is expected to make his next start in the Haskell for trainer Dale Romans and owner Jerry Crawford of Donegal Racing.
Hansen, the 2011 juvenile champion male and runaway winner of the June 30 Iowa Derby (gr. III) is among the 3-year-olds who are possible for the the Haskell. Trained by Mike Maker and owned by his namesake Dr. Kendall Hansen, the son of Tapit finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby.
