The Haskell field is expected to be headed by WinStar Farm's Bluegrass Cat and John Oxley's Strong Contender.
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.Baffert confirmed Friday that Point Determined, thought a possibility for the $1-million race, has not bounced back from his last race quickly enough to make the Haskell. Point Determined, who is by another of Baffert's Haskell winners, Point Given , finished second in the July 8 Swaps Stakes (gr. II) at Hollywood Park. He won the June 17 Affirmed Handicap (gr. III) prior to the Swaps.Point Determined runs for the Robert and Beverly Lewis Trust.Baffert said Wanna Runner, who was favored in the Queen's Plate but finished a lackluster 10th, would run next in the West Virginia Derby (gr. III). The race is worth $750,000 and run at 1 1/8-mile.A son of El Corredor owned by Mike Pegram, Wanna Runner had won his two starts prior to shipping to Canada for the Queen's Plate, the Lone Star Derby, (gr. III) and WinStar Derby.Baffert also said no race has been picked out yet for a return by Sinister Minister, who won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) and finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby. The Old Trieste colt, owned by the Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable, and Bernard Schiappa, has not started since the May 6 Derby.
