Rontos Racing Stable's Social Inclusion breezed a half-mile out of the Gulfstream Park starting gate in :47 2/5 the morning of July 10 in preparation for a planned start in the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I).
The 3-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile got three panels over a sloppy track in :35 3/5 on his way to his recorded half-mile clocking, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 3/5.
The 1 1/8-mile Haskell at Monmouth Park | BloodHorse.com Track Profile">Monmouth Park is July 27.
"It was an easy breeze. He was fine in the gate," said Rontos Racing's Ron Sanchez, whose colt has had his issues with the starting gate in the past.
Social Inclusion finished a distant third behind run-away winner Bayern in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens (gr. II) at Belmont Park June 7 last time out after his connections opted to run him in that spot instead of sending him in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
"Bayern ran a big race in the Woody Stephens," said Sanchez, who reported that Social Inclusion had breezed a half in :49 1/5 seconds a week ago in a workout that was not officially recorded. "We've given our colt a rest since his last start. He looks better than he did in New York. He's relaxed. We think he's really maturing."
Social Inclusion launched his career at Gulfstream last winter with back-to-back victories, including a 10-length allowance victory over highly regarded Honor Code in a track-record 1:40.97 for 1 1/16 miles March 12. The Manny Azpurua-trained colt made the jump to grade I company in the Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack, where he finished third behind Wicked Strong. He subsequently finished third after a rough trip in the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico Race Course.
"We might have rushed him going into the Preakness," Sanchez said.
Gulfstream-based Wildcat Red, who captured the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II) and finished second behind Constitution in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I), is also planning to make the trip to New Jersey for the Haskell.
The Jose Garoffalo-trained colt, who is scheduled to breeze July 13 before shipping to Monmouth, recently rebounded from a troubled 18th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a 10 1/4-length romp in the Quality Road Stakes at Gulfstream.
"The Haskell isn't going to be an easy race," Sanchez said. "It looks like there's going to be a lot of speed in there with Wildcat Red running. Hopefully, our horse will finally win a graded race."
