Two leading contenders for the $1-million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park Aug. 2 worked five-eighths of a mile over a fast track at the New Jersey oval the morning of July 6.
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird was timed in 1:04 2/5 for his five-furlong breeze, with Arkansas Derby (gr. II) winner Papa Clem getting the same distance in 1:03 2/5.
The Haskell will be the first start for Summer Bird since the Birdstone colt won the June 6 Belmont for owners Kalarikkal K. and Vilasini D. Jayaraman and trainer Tim Ice.
Papa Clem, a son of Smart Strike trained by Gary Stute for Bo Hirsch, has not raced since his sixth-place finish in the May 16 BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
