Dullahan Commits to the Haskell

 

Trainer Dale Romans has indicated that he and the owners from 

Donegal Racing want to give Dullahan one more try on a dirt surface, even after his disappointing seventh place finish in the Belmont Stakes, and the Haskell is their choice of races.  The winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) just had an impressive workout at Churchill Downs of four furlongs in :47.80 with a six furlong gallop out in 1:14.20. The Haskell fits well for Dullahan as Romans may have his eye on the August 18^th Secretariat (G1) on the turf at Arlington Park.  Last summer Shackleford finished second in the Haskell for Romans.

 

Michael Matz was at Monmouth Park on Saturday for Somali Lemonade’s third place finish in the Boiling Springs (G3) and at that time he was still leaning towards the Haskell for Union Rags over the Jim Dandy (G2). “I will have to make a decision,” said Matz. “I would imagine, though, that if you are trying to be the 3-year-old champion, you have to run in the grade one races and that would be the Haskell.”

 

On the other hand Todd Pletcher announced that he is now leaning towards the Jim Dandy for Gemologist, “The Jim Dandy is our target at the moment, unless something happens and we switch gears for the Haskell.”

 

Here is a list of the six stakes races on the Haskell undercard.

 

$100,000 - Majestic Light - 3YO & up – a mile and a sixteenth

$100,000 – Teddy Drone – 3YO & up – six furlongs

$100,000 – Regret – 3YO & up F/M – six furlongs

$150,000 – Matchmaker (G3) - 3YO & up F/M – nine furlongs (turf)

$150,000 – Oceanport (G3) – 3YO & up - a mile and a sixteenth (turf)

$200,000 – Molly Pitcher (G2) – 3YO & up F/M - a mile and a sixteenth

 

During the month leading up to the July 29^th race let’s go back and enjoy some of the most memorable performances in the Haskell.

 

In 1994 Holy Bull won the Haskell with a relentless wire-to-wire run. On his way to that year’s Horse of the Year title Holy Bull took down the Florida Derby, Blue Grass, Met Mile, Dwyer, Travers, and the Woodward. Monmouth Park based trainer Jimmy Croll inherited Holy Bull when his owner, Rachel Carpenter of Pelican Stable. passed away just before he won his first maiden two year-old race. Holy Bull won 13 of his 16 career starts and $2,481,760. Enjoy the video of the 1994 Haskell.