Weekend Watch: Haskell Invitational tops Sunday's action
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Eclipse Sportswire
The second half of the special two-part Weekend Watch focuses on Sunday’s races. While both Saratoga and Del Mar each feature a graded stakes, the focus is on New Jersey's Monmouth Park and its Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational. The headliner is preceded by five stakes, four of them graded.
We run it all down below with post times are in Eastern Standard:
Homebred to debut for Repole, Pletcher
Always Shopping, a full sister to Grade 3-placed Mo Shopping and out of Grade 1-placed Stopshoppingmaria, will debut in Saratoga’s fourth race on Sunday. Like her full sister, Always Shopping is bred and owned by Mike Repole and trained by Todd Pletcher, both of whom also owned and trained dam Stopshoppingmaria. The filly has been named the 2-1 favorite in the field of seven and will exit post six. The six-furlong race for 2-year old fillies will go to post at 2:41 p.m.
Undefeated Chilean-bred makes U.S. debut in Shuvee
Wow Cat will make both her United States and seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Shuvee Handicap at Saratoga. An undefeated, three-time Group 1 winner in Chile, Wow Cat’s past performance lines say just three things: “as rider pleased,” “easily,” and “much the best.” Sunday’s Shuvee will go a long way in determining whether Wow Cat was a big fish in a little pond or a legitimate runner for new trainer Chad Brown. While the race only attracted six others, they are some of the stalwarts of the distaff division, including Wow Cat’s stablemate of the same connections Pacific Wind. Ivy Bell can always be counted on the run a good race, but it’s Verve’s Tail that likes both the Saratoga track and the nine furlong Shuvee distance. Post time is 5:40 p.m.
Five stakes on the Haskell undercard
The Grade 3 Oceanport Stakes drew a field of seven led by Grade 2 winner Synchrony. The 5-year old son of Tapit is coming off two straight third-place finishers against better company. Force the Pass is third off the extended layoff and was last seen finishing sixth behind Oscar Performance’s record-setting Poker (G3) victory. Irish Strait is another to watch out for in the 8.5-furlong race.
Salvator Mile (G3) winner Page McKenney tops the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup, a nine-furlong affair. Remembering Rita rides a three race win streak, including a Grade 3 score in his last race. Those two face just four others, but it could be anyone’s race.
Trainer Chad Brown will saddle the two favorites in the Grade 3 Matchmaker Stakes. Eatontown (G3) winner Dream Awhile was given the slight edge over stablemate Elysea’s World, who was third in that same race. Runner-up Special Event returns, as do the Miss Liberty top three. Along with purse money, the top three runners will be awarded a total of $50,000 in stallion seasons to Winstar Stallions Exaggerator, Commissioner, and Tourist.
Unchained Melody will be looking for her first victory in over a year in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher Stakes. Last year the Smart Strike filly won the Mother Goose (G2) but was pulled up and vanned off in the Alabama (G1). She has finished fifth in both starts this year. Stakes winner Divine Miss Gray will exit post three as the 5-2 morning line favorite. Viva Forever rides a four-race win streak but will be stepping up significantly in class. Dreamcall enters on a three-race win streak, including two stakes, while Berned drops in class out of the Ogden Phipps (G1) and is perfect at Monmouth.
Imprimis is the 2-1 favorite in a field of 12 assembled for the Wolf Hill Stakes. The 4-year old gelding had been undefeated prior to running sixth in the Highlander (G1). Pennsylvania Governors Cup top four finishers Oak Bluffs, Dubini, Pool Winner, and Ray’swarrior all return for another shot at each other. The rest of the field is comprised of double-digit outsiders.
G3 Oceanport 2:56 p.m.
G3 Monmouth Cup 3:28 p.m.
G3 Matchmaker 4:05 p.m.
G3 Molly Pitcher 4:36 p.m.
Wolf Hill 5:12 p.m.
Good Magic returns in Haskell Invitational
Juvenile champion Good Magic returns to the starting gate for the first time since finishing fourth in the Preakness (G1). The Curlin colt tops a field of seven assembled for the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational. Preakness runner-up Bravazo is the second choice off a sixth in the Belmont (G1) Hofburg, who was third in the Belmont, just came back and won the Curlin Stakes at nine furlongs at Saratoga on Friday. Ohio Derby (G3) winner and runner-up Core Beliefs and Lone Sailor will also contest the Haskell. The winner will also receive an automatic, fees paid spot in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Post time is 5:45 p.m.
Unique Bella tops Clement L. Hirsch field
Champion female sprinter Unique Bella is stretching back out a bit after having her way with the Beholder Mile (G1) field. She should do the same in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes with just five lined up to test her. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Unique Bella has fired off two straight bullet works coming into this race. A win here earns an automatic fees paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Post time is 7 p.m.
Undefeated Chilean-bred makes U.S. debut in Shuvee
Wow Cat will make both her United States and seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Shuvee Handicap at Saratoga. An undefeated, three-time Group 1 winner in Chile, Wow Cat’s past performance lines say just three things: “as rider pleased,” “easily,” and “much the best.” Sunday’s Shuvee will go a long way in determining whether Wow Cat was a big fish in a little pond or a legitimate runner for new trainer Chad Brown. While the race only attracted six others, they are some of the stalwarts of the distaff division, including Wow Cat’s stablemate of the same connections Pacific Wind. Ivy Bell can always be counted on the run a good race, but it’s Verve’s Tail that likes both the Saratoga track and the nine furlong Shuvee distance. Post time is 5:40 p.m.
Five stakes on the Haskell undercard
The Grade 3 Oceanport Stakes drew a field of seven led by Grade 2 winner Synchrony. The 5-year old son of Tapit is coming off two straight third-place finishers against better company. Force the Pass is third off the extended layoff and was last seen finishing sixth behind Oscar Performance’s record-setting Poker (G3) victory. Irish Strait is another to watch out for in the 8.5-furlong race.
Salvator Mile (G3) winner Page McKenney tops the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup, a nine-furlong affair. Remembering Rita rides a three race win streak, including a Grade 3 score in his last race. Those two face just four others, but it could be anyone’s race.
Trainer Chad Brown will saddle the two favorites in the Grade 3 Matchmaker Stakes. Eatontown (G3) winner Dream Awhile was given the slight edge over stablemate Elysea’s World, who was third in that same race. Runner-up Special Event returns, as do the Miss Liberty top three. Along with purse money, the top three runners will be awarded a total of $50,000 in stallion seasons to Winstar Stallions Exaggerator, Commissioner, and Tourist.
Unchained Melody will be looking for her first victory in over a year in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher Stakes. Last year the Smart Strike filly won the Mother Goose (G2) but was pulled up and vanned off in the Alabama (G1). She has finished fifth in both starts this year. Stakes winner Divine Miss Gray will exit post three as the 5-2 morning line favorite. Viva Forever rides a four-race win streak but will be stepping up significantly in class. Dreamcall enters on a three-race win streak, including two stakes, while Berned drops in class out of the Ogden Phipps (G1) and is perfect at Monmouth.
Imprimis is the 2-1 favorite in a field of 12 assembled for the Wolf Hill Stakes. The 4-year old gelding had been undefeated prior to running sixth in the Highlander (G1). Pennsylvania Governors Cup top four finishers Oak Bluffs, Dubini, Pool Winner, and Ray’swarrior all return for another shot at each other. The rest of the field is comprised of double-digit outsiders.
G3 Oceanport 2:56 p.m.
G3 Monmouth Cup 3:28 p.m.
G3 Matchmaker 4:05 p.m.
G3 Molly Pitcher 4:36 p.m.
Wolf Hill 5:12 p.m.
Good Magic returns in Haskell Invitational
Juvenile champion Good Magic returns to the starting gate for the first time since finishing fourth in the Preakness (G1). The Curlin colt tops a field of seven assembled for the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational. Preakness runner-up Bravazo is the second choice off a sixth in the Belmont (G1) Hofburg, who was third in the Belmont, just came back and won the Curlin Stakes at nine furlongs at Saratoga on Friday. Ohio Derby (G3) winner and runner-up Core Beliefs and Lone Sailor will also contest the Haskell. The winner will also receive an automatic, fees paid spot in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Post time is 5:45 p.m.
Unique Bella tops Clement L. Hirsch field
Champion female sprinter Unique Bella is stretching back out a bit after having her way with the Beholder Mile (G1) field. She should do the same in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes with just five lined up to test her. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Unique Bella has fired off two straight bullet works coming into this race. A win here earns an automatic fees paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Post time is 7 p.m.
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