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Horses Arriving at Monmouth for 2013 Meet

Just after 5:30 a.m. Friday, April 12, a van carrying horses for trainer Pat McBurney rolled through the Monmouth Park stable gate, a sure sign that the racing season is quickly approaching.

Haskell Winner Paynter Spikes Temperature

Two days after winning the Haskell Invitational (gr. I), Zayat Stables' Paynter remained at Monmouth Park with a slight fever that prevented him from shipping back to trainer Bob Baffert's base in Southern California.

Saratoga Diary: The Wedding Gift

A young man named Matty D thought it would be great fun to buy his friend Micah a gag wedding gift.

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Preparations Continue for Haskell Contenders

Contenders for the Haskell Invitational (gr. I) were out on the track either at Monmouth Park or Saratoga Race Course the morning of July 27, as fine-tuning continued two days before the $1 million race.

Bodemeister to Stand at WinStar When Retired

Zayat Stables' leading 3-year-old Bodemeister, winner of the Arkansas Derby, will stand stud at WinStar Farm at the conclusion of his racing career, WinStar announced June 28.

Haskell Should Impact 3YO Championship

Both Shackleford and Ruler On Ice will have a big chance to jump to the top of the 3-year-old division July 31 when they headline the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park.

Contenders Gearing Up For Haskell

The locally-based duo of Pants On Fire and Ruler On Ice will have their final respective works for the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) between races Sunday, July 24 at Monmouth Park.

J J's Lucky Train Aiming for Haskell

Exactly one year to the day after being claimed for $40,000, J J's Lucky Train will be sent postward in the July 31 Resorts Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park.

Half Brother to Lookin At Lucky Gets $750,000

A colt by Afleet Alex and a half brother to Haskell Invitational and Preakness (both gr.I) winner Lookin At Lucky sold for $750,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale.

Breeders' Cup Chat: Haskell Weekend Picks

Jason Shandler's thoughts on this weekend's racing.

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And They're Off: July 21, 2010

Lenny and Steve discuss the opening of racing at Del Mar and Saratoga, the 3-year-olds, including a preview of the Haskell, the travels of Rail Trip, and more.

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Rachel May Face Up to Seven in Lady's Secret

Rachel Alexandra will have four definite opponents in the $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes July 24 at Monmouth Park.

Trappe Shot Wins, On His Way to Haskell

After scoring an impressive victory in the $175,000 Long Branch Stakes July 10 at Monmouth Park, Mill House's Trappe Shot may have earned himself a spot in the Aug. 1 Izod Haskell Invitational (gr. I).

Champion 3YO Female: Rachel Alexandra

After trouncing her own division, filly stepped out to beat the boys in the grade I BlackBerry Preakness, Haskell, and Woodward Stakes.

Sore Foot May Keep Atomic Rain Out of Haskell

A sore foot could keep Atomic Rain from taking on BlackBerry Preakness (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra and Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird in the Aug. 2 Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park.

Quality Road Ready, Munnings to Haskell

Edward Evans' homebred Quality Road worked five furlongs in 1:01.41 July 17 at Belmont Park and is on track to make his first start in more than four months in the $150,000 Amsterdam (gr. II) at Saratoga on Aug. 3.

Summer Bird Breezes at Monmouth for Haskell

Summer Bird, winner of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in his last effort, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 the morning of July 12 at Monmouth Park.

Bone Bruise Stops Musket Man for the Year

Multiple graded winner Musket Man, who made a name for himself during this year's Triple Crown run, will miss Monmouth Park's Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 2 and the rest of the racing season with a bone bruise in his left front foot.

No Breeders' Cup for Rachel Alexandra

Stonestreet Stables' Jess Jackson, majority owner of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and BlackBerry Preakness (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra, said in a wide-ranging media teleconference June 24 that the superb filly would not race in this year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita but that there is a good possibility that she would return in 2010 for a 4-year-old campaign.

Musket Man Works Toward Haskell

Musket Man, third in both the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) this spring, returned to the track June 24 as he starts preparations for the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) on Aug. 2.

Both Birds, Charitable Man Eye Travers

Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird, Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird, and Peter Pan winner (gr. II) winner Charitable Man are all targeting the Shadwell Travers (gr. I) later this summer at Saratoga, but will take different paths to the "Mid-Summer Derby."

Travers Field Begins to Take Shape

According to New York Racing Association Stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, Acai, Colonel John, Da' Tara, Harlem Rocker, Macho Again, Mambo in Seattle, Pyro, Tale of Ekati, and Tres Borrachos are probable for the Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.

Six to Challenge Big Brown in Haskell

Six 3-year-olds, including three stakes winners, have been entered to face dual classic winner Big Brown in the $1-million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 3 at Monmouth Park.

Monmouth Suspends Racing July 27

Monmouth Park Racetrack canceled live racing following the running of the fifth race July 27 due to inclement weather that included heavy rains and lightning.

Big Brown Zips in Workout

Dual classic winner Big Brown zipped six furlongs in 1:10 4/5 at Aqueduct July 26 under exercise rider Michelle Nevin.

Dutrow, Desormeaux Meet, Mend Fences

Trainer Rick Dutrow's initial displeasure over Kent Desormeaux's ride aboard Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr.I) had abated quite a bit the morning of June 11, after he met with the Hall of Fame jockey. Dutrow said Desormeaux, who eased Big Brown at the top of the stretch in the Belmont, would have the mount when the colt races again.

Monmouth Announces Stakes Schedule

Headlined by the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) on Aug. 3, Monmouth Park will offer $3.85 million in graded stakes for the 2008 racing season, which runs from May 9 through Sept. 28.

Wagering in First Breeders' Cup Day Shatters Monmouth Record

A new all-sources handle of $30,370,671 was established for Monmouth Park during the Oct. 26 running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the track has reported.

Gomez Hospitalized After Belmont Park Incident

Jockey Garrett Gomez was hospitalized Oct. 3 following an incident at Belmont Park during the third race of the day.

Curlin Breezes at Saratoga; Haskell on Tap

Curlin, the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner, breezed six furlongs Tuesday over Saratoga's fast Oklahoma Training Track in 1:14.27. The lightly-raced son of Smart Strike who has won four of six starts is preparing for the second half of 2007.

Field for Haskell Taking Shape

The 2007 running of Monmouth Park's $1-million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage (gr. I) promises to be one of the best ever, with Preakness (gr. I) winner Curlin, Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) runner-up Hard Spun, and the undefeated Cable Boy heading the field.

First Defence on Offense in Monmouth's Long Branch Stakes

First Defence will tackle the field when six horses go postward in Saturday's Long Branch Breeders' Cup Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Long Branch Big Step for Frankel's First Defence

Juddmonte Farms homebred First Defence, a late-developing 3-year-old who was not ready for this year's Triple Crown events, steps it up Saturday for trainer Bobby Frankel in the $150,000 Long Branch Breeders' Cup, Monmouth's local prep for the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) on Aug. 5.

Street Sense, Curlin Work at Churchill Downs

The winners of this spring's memorable first two Triple Crown races were in action at Churchill Downs July 1 as Street Sense, winner of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), and Curlin, who edged the Derby winner to take a memorable renewal of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), each worked five furlongs under the historic Twin Spires.

Street Sense Starts Cranking for Summer Campaign

James Tafel's homebred Street Sense, winner of the 2007 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), took a first step toward his summer and fall campaign with a solid four-furlong work on Sunday at Churchill Downs.

Haskell Highlights Monmouth Park Stakes Schedule

Headed by the $1-million Haskell Invitational presented by Vonage (gr. I) Aug. 5, Monmouth Park will offer $4.4 million in stakes for the 2007 meet that includes the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Pletcher Non-Committal on Travers for 'Cat; Sunriver Sent to Vet Clinic

Bluegrass Cat, the runaway winner of yesterday's Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park, is already back in Saratoga Springs. Although it's hard to envision Bluegrass Cat skipping Saratoga's grade I, $1 million Travers, presented by New York Lottery on Aug. 26, the colt's trainer, Todd Pletcher, was non-committal Monday.

Bluegrass Cat Flexes Claws in Haskell Romp

Even-money favorite Bluegrass Cat, winless since taking the Sam F. Davis in February, demolished the field in Sunday's $1,030,000 Haskell Invitational with devastating late burst.

Bluegrass Cat, Strong Contender Head Field of 9 in Haskell

If any 3-year-old is going to head to the Aug. 26 Travers Stakes (gr. I) with a legitimate shot to knock off the Bernardini, he will have to show what he's made of in Sunday's $1-million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park.

Eight Likely for Haskell; Hoping for a Fast Track for Deputy Glitters

Joseph LaCombe's Deputy Glitters is one of eight considered likely for this Sunday's Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, and trainer Tom Albertrani is ready for Deputy Glitters to take his next step as he returns to grade I competition in the 1 1/8-mile event.

No Baffert Runner in 2006 Haskell

Trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the Haskell (gr. I) three times, including last year with Roman Ruler, will not have a runner in the Aug. 6 Monmouth Park race this year.

Vonage to Sponsor Haskell Invitational

Monmouth Park racetrack announced Vonage America, a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp., a leading provider of broadband telephone services, signed a 3-year deal to become the presenting sponsor of the Haskell Invitational. The 39th running of the Haskell will be held Aug. 6.

Brother Derek Back on (the) Track; Haskell Probable Next Start

After a four-week break, Cecil Peacock's dual grade 1 winner Brother Derek returned to Santa Anita's main track this past Saturday to begin preparations for a probable start in the $1 million Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I) on Aug. 6 at Monmouth Park, trainer Dan Hendricks revealed.

Bernardini to Skip Belmont

Darley Stable's Bernardini, 5 1/4-length winner of the May 20 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), will not run in the June 10 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), according to a statement released by Darley.

Roman Ruler Reigns in Haskell

With Afleet Alex on the bench, Fog City Stable's Roman Ruler finally reigns over the national 3-year-old division. The injury-plagued 'Ruler, who missed this year's Triple Crown with foot problems, realized his potential Sunday by capturing the $1 million Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Monmouth Park impressively.

Ohio Derby Winner Palladio Joins Haskell Cast

Canadian-based Palladio, winner of the Ohio Derby (gr. II), is scheduled to arrive at Monmouth Park Thursday evening for Sunday's $1-million Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I), which could draw as many as nine starters.

Haskell Field Continues to Grow

It is no surprise that the prospective field for the $1-million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) on Aug. 7 is growing by the day since Afleet Alex's defection, and could now draw as many as 13 starters.

Afleet Alex Sidelined by Condylar Fracture

Cash Is King's Afleet Alex, dramatic winner of the Preakness and runaway winner of the Belmont Stakes (both gr. I), was operated on Wednesday at the New Jersey Equine Clinic after suffering a condylar fracture. The 3-year-old son of Northern Afleet is now out of consideration for the upcoming Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I) and Travers Stakes (gr. I) but could return for a fall campaign.

Afleet Alex Assigned 123 for Haskell

Cash Is King's Afleet Alex, winner of two jewels of the Triple Crown this year, has been assigned highweight of 123 pounds for the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. 1) Aug. 7.

Rock Hard Ten Better, to Ship Home Sunday

Rock Hard Ten, who finished sixth in last Sunday's Haskell Invitational (gr. I) as the favorite, will finally be going home on Sunday.