Haskell preview

The darling of American horse racing returns in the home state of his owners. American Pharoah will be facing some very interesting horses in this year's Haskell, the first WAYI of the year for the Classic. Lets take a look at the field:

Video


Written Preview

12th Race - Monmouth Park - Sunday, August 2nd, 2015 STAKES. 1 1/8 Mile Dirt. Purse $1,750,000. William Hill Haskell Invitational S. (Grade 1). FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS. By invitation only. No nomination, entry or starting fees. The winning owner to receive $1,100,000, $330,000 to second, $150,000 to third, $90,000 to fourth, $50,000 to fifth and $15,000 sixth through last. Weight: 122 lbs. Non-winners of a Triple Crown race allowed 2 lbs.; Non-winners of a Grade I Stake at a mile or over in 2015, 4 lbs. The William Hill Haskell Invitational has been selected as one of the Breeders' Cup Win and You're In Challenge Races. The nominated winner of theWilliam Hill Haskell Invitational will be entitled to automatic entry into the 2015 running of the Breeders' Cup Classic Championship race and will be entitled to have pre-entry and entries fees waved for the Championship race, and will be entitled to receive a travel stipend if traveling from a base located outside the state of Kentucky. The owner of the winner to receive a trophy. (05:52 PM)

PP	Horse	A/S	M/E	Wgt	Jockey	Trainer
1	Upstart	3 R	L	118	Bravo Joe	Violette, Jr. Richard A.
2	Competitive Edge	3 C	L	118	Smith Mike E.	Pletcher Todd A.
3	Nonna's Boy	3 C	L	118		Pletcher Todd A.
4	American Pharoah	3 C	L	122	Espinoza Victor	Baffert Bob
5	Mr. Jordan	3 C	L	118	Lopez Paco	Plesa, Jr. Edward
6	Keen Ice	3 C	L	118	Desormeaux Kent J.	Romans Dale L.
7	Top Clearance	3 C	L	118	Castellano, Jr. Abel	Catalano Wayne M.
8	Dontbetwithbruno	3 C	L	118		Pletcher Todd A.

Upstart (Flatter): 18th in the Kentucky Derby and 2nd in the Florida Derby. Cross-entered into the Jim Dandy.

Competitive Edge (Super Saver): 6th in the Woody Stephens and won the Pat Day Mile. First two turn race.

Nonna's Boy (Distorted Humor):Won the Lamplighter and was 3rd in the Easy Goer. Dam is a 3/4 sister to Cairo Prince.

American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile): Won the Belmont and Preakness in his last two after winning the Kentucky Derby. The biggest question will be how much did the visitors he had take out of him.

Mr. Jordan (Kantharos): Won the Pegasus and 2nd in the Tarpon. While undefeated at Monmouth, takes a big step up in class.

Keen Ice (Curlin): 3rd in the Belmont and 7th in the Derby. Might be fresher then the Triple Crown winner.

Top Clearance (Majestic Warrior): Won Allowance/Optional Claimer and broke maiden. Stakes debut.

Dontbetwithbruno (Tiz Wonderful): 2nd in the Lamplighter and 4th in the Pegasus. Step up in class.

Picks

Head picks

Win- American Pharoah
Place- Keen Ice
Show- Mr. Jordan

Heart Picks

Win- American Pharoah
Place- Upstart
Show- Keen Ice

Dark Horse- Nonna's Boy