Flashback: Ranking Pharoah and 3 other top Haskell winners
Who are the greatest horses to ever win the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park? Tough question.
The Haskell long has ranked among the nation’s most prestigious summer prizes for 3-year-olds, and the roster of winners reads like a “who’s who” of champions. In attempting to narrow our rankings down to just four names, we have had to exclude multiple classic winners Point Given, War Emblem, and Big Brown, two-time Eclipse Award winner Lookin At Lucky, and the fantastic filly Serena’s Song to name just a few.
Ultimately, the following list is where our rankings settled. Let us know if you agree or disagree.
4. Rachel Alexandra (2009)
One of the greatest fillies to ever set foot on a racetrack, Rachel Alexandra went 8-for-8 during a stellar sophomore campaign that saw her beat males on multiple occasions and claim Horse of the Year honors. Her 20 1/4-length demolition of the Kentucky Oaks and her gritty victories in the Preakness and Woodward (G1) are surely Rachel Alexandra’s most legendary moments, but for sheer brilliance, her Haskell triumph was just as impressive. After pressing fast fractions of 22.99, 46.43, and 1:09.92 over a sloppy track, Rachel Alexandra surged away to beat Belmont winner Summer Bird by six lengths. Her final time of 1:47.21 missed the stakes record by just 0.21.
3. Holy Bull (1994)
In 1994, the great gray Holy Bull won not only the Haskell, but also the Woodward (G1), Travers (G1), Metropolitan (G1), Florida Derby (G1), Blue Grass (G2), Dwyer (G2), and Hutcheson (G2). It is no wonder he ended the season as Horse of the Year. A brilliant miler who could carry his speed 1 1/4 miles, Holy Bull pretty much cruised to victory in the Haskell, coming home 1 3/4 lengths clear of Kentucky Derby alumnus Meadow Flight and future Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Concern.
2. Skip Away (1996)
Over the course of four seasons, Skip Away won 10 Grade 1 races, placed in 10 others, and earned more than $9.6 million. Following runner-up efforts in the Preakness and Belmont, Skip Away picked up his first top-level win in the Haskell, where he rallied smartly from mid-pack to score by a length. Other career highlights include a runaway win in the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Classic and four Eclipse Awards, including the 1998 Horse of the Year title.
1. American Pharoah (2015)
After ending a 37-year Triple Crown drought with his sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont, American Pharoah utilized the Haskell as an eye-catching encore. The Haskell often seems like an unofficial fourth leg of the Triple Crown, and this was certainly the case in 2015, when American Pharoah cruised to an effortless 2 1/4-length victory over Belmont third-place finish Keen Ice. A champion at age two and three, American Pharoah ultimately added the Breeders’ Cup Classic to his stellar resume, capping off a legendary Horse of the Year campaign.
How would you rank history’s greatest Haskell winners?
J. Keeler Johnson is a writer, videographer, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. You can follow him on Twitter at @J_Keelerman.