Signs point to Extra Añejo handling Haskell distance

One probable entrant with high potential in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday is Extra Añejo, who has been on the comeback trail this year after a flashy maiden win at Keeneland last October.

Extra Añejo lacks a start beyond one mile, but from visual and pedigree standpoints, he should handle the nine furlongs in the Haskell.

Trainer Steve Asmussen brought Extra Añejo back into the flow of racing slowly by starting him in a 6 1/2-furlong Churchill Downs optional-claiming race on the Derby undercard, where he ran a closing second while losing by only one length to Federal Judge.

Asmussen intended to start Extra Añejo in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) until the Churchill Downs meet moved to Ellis Park. Instead, he entered Extra Añejo in another optional claimer June 10 while stretching him out to one mile for the first time. Extra Añejo handled his first route race with a beautiful win.

After chasing the loose pacesetter Take the Charge early on, Extra Añejo took over the lead on the turn and repelled a challenge from Tall Boy.

Extra Añejo won by 6 1/4 lengths, but that final margin understates how well he actually ran. Another 17 lengths came between the runner-up Tall Boy, who ran a great race in defeat, and the third-place Classic Legacy. The big margin between Tall Boy and Classic Legacy is a good sign for the winner.

Given Extra Añejo finished strong at one mile, he is supposed to handle longer distances. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. used mild encouragement at best. When Extra Añejo secured the lead, it came mostly under his power.

As for Extra Añejo’s pedigree, it looks fine for nine furlongs.

Even though Into Mischief has been the sire for many sprinters and milers, at this point no one can doubt Into Mischief can sire longer routers.

For example, Into Mischief sired the 2020 Kentucky Derby champion Authentic, which should close any debate about him siring longer route winners. In addition, Into Mischief’s daughter Pretty Mischievous won this year's Kentucky Oaks (G1) at the nine-furlong distance. 

On the bottom side, Extra Añejo shows plenty of European influences, with at least one famous name in Galileo sticking out. Galileo sired Extra Añejo’s second dam Justlookdontouch, who ended up not racing. Eventually, Justlookdontouch was sent to the sire Hard Spun to breed, and they became the sire and dam of Superioritycomplex, who broke her maiden at 10 furlongs in Europe for her final career start. 

With names such as Galileo and Hard Spun in Superioritycomplex’s family, plus her own record of winning a race at 10 furlongs, Superioritycomplex should produce offspring that can handle longer routes.

If grading Extra Añejo’s overall pedigree for longer route distance potential, he probably deserves a B+. The stamina on his bottom side, especially with the European background, offsets any negative part that Into Mischief brings to the table, if he is even a negative at all. In the case that Extra Añejo loses the Haskell, the pedigree will not be at fault.

Of course, neither visual or pedigree analysis are exact sciences. Extra Añejo still lacks a nine-furlong race on paper, and horseplayers need to decide whether that affects their decision to include him in bets.

As usual, the last piece of advice is to make sure Extra Añejo’s odds reflect the fact he enters the Haskell no experience in graded-stakes races or at nine furlongs. If Extra Añejo is the favorite or falls near the favorite’s odds, then he is possibly over bet. But as the third choice or higher, bettors could do worse than wager on this talented colt.