Battle of Midway Ready to Fire in Haskell

Even without the presence of Always Dreaming, Cloud Computing, Tapwrit, and Classic Empire, the 50th running of the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational has drawn one of the deepest fields in recent memory. Seven graded stakes winners will be lining the gate at Monmouth in hopes of securing the $1 million prize and Breeders’ Cup Classic Win and You’re In berth. Six Kentucky Derby starters will be meeting again, and new face Timeline will attempt to extend his unbeaten streak to five.

Drawing post 2, and breaking in between the two likely favorites, is Kentucky Derby third Battle of Midway, who is entering the Haskell off a win in the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita on June 24th. The son of Smart Strike has yet to finish off the board in his short six race career, reeling in three wins in addition to three other graded stakes placings.

Over the course of the year, Battle of Midway has displayed hard fought resiliency and grit rarely seen at the dawn of a horse’s career. Although the Santa Anita Derby was considered by many as one of the slower Derby preps, Battle of Midway threw down the dirty work and fought from gate to wire through blistering fractions, hounded two deep by challengers for the entirety of the race, before finally succumbing to Gormley’s late rally to be defeated by a half length.

Proving his toughness was far from a fluke by finishing third at 40-1 in the Run for the Roses, the Hollendorfer charge again followed a hot early pace before staying on strongly in the stretch while starving off the incoming challenges of Classic Empire, Practical Joke, McCraken, and others. Where Irish War Cry faltered, Battle of Midway persisted, and he gained my utmost respect that evening at Churchill Downs. After a simple, workmanlike win in the Affirmed last month, I’ve been raving about Battle of Midway and the Haskell being the perfect match.

Irish War Cry, New Jersey’s hometown hero and likely post time favorite, drew the rail directly inside both Battle of Midway and Timeline, which should force his hand out of the gate. With Timeline already having notched a local prep over the track, and speed being such a necessity at Monmouth, I imagine the son of Hard Spun takes the lead out of the gate with Irish War Cry hot on his heels. Battle of Midway, with lethal speed and the red hot Flavien Prat in the irons, will likely be closely tracking the two favorites into the turn and ensuring that the pace remains honest.

With Irish War Cry yet to string together back to back good races this year, and Timeline facing the first real, and very deep, test of his career, Battle of Midway should be right there to pick up the pieces and have enough remaining in the tank to hold off his late closing challengers in the stretch at Monmouth Park, just like he did at Churchill.

And, for what it’s worth, Battle of Midway is the only West Coast based horse in this year’s Haskell, and six of the past seven runnings have been won by West Coast based horses.

Still struggling to find the respect and attention of many, Battle of Midway is cocked and loaded to fire his best shot in the Haskell Invitational. He has yet to show us his best, and I truly believe he can win big time at Monmouth Park.

If anyone deserves it, it’s a gritty little horse like him.