Haskell 2018 notes: Core Beliefs enters off 'his best races'

Core Beliefs, who is coming off a hard-fought win the Grade 3 Ohio Derby in his last start, went through a routine Friday morning gallop at Monmouth Park and was slated to visit the paddock in the afternoon ahead of Sunday's Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational.

Luis Martinez, who is looking after the son of Quality Road until Eurton arrives via the red eye on Sunday morning to saddle the colt, reported that all is good with the colt.

Speaking of the Ohio Derby when Gary Broad’s Core Beliefs came from far off the pace and sustained a long drive to nip fellow Haskell combatant Lone Sailor at the wire and prevail by a nose, Eurton said that he thought it was an “amazing effort” on the part of his horse.

“His last two races were his best races, and he’s done nothing wrong since,” Eurton said by phone from California. “That’s why we’re running here. We discussed it a lot. He’s doing so well and how many opportunities do you have to win a Grade 1?”

Top contenders making their way to Monmouth

Lone Sailor, Good Magic, and Bravazo, who are all currently stabled and training at Saratoga, are scheduled to van to Monmouth Saturday morning. 

Trainer Chad Brown reported via text that Good Magic, who is coming off a 10-week layoff following two grueling races in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and is looking to get back into the win column, went through his final routine gallop at The Spa this morning and all signs are go for the e Five racing and Stonestreet Stables champion colt.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is preparing to load Bravazo on a van for the ride south to Oceanport.

“Everything is fine with Bravazo. He had a great morning and we’ll load up tomorrow morning and be there by mid-morning to late morning,” Lukas said of the Calumet Farm’s homebred. “We’re bringing him on our own van and looking forward to the race.”

Trainer Tom Amoss, who tightened the final screws on Lone Sailor, said that the G M B color bearer also had an uneventful routine gallop at Saratoga today and remains on schedule for the Haskell.

Navy Commander, the dominant winner of the Long Branch Stakes here in his last outing, won’t return to MonmouthPark until the morning of the race from his home at Parx.

“It’s only an hour away and he likes to ride on the van,” said trainer Robert “Butch” Reid, Jr. “He’s happy at home in his own stall so we’ll continue to gallop there and jog Saturday morning and then we’ll ship in Sunday morning.”

Local contenders get their footing

Roaming Union and Golden Brown were out on the Monmouth Park racing strip Friday morning continuing their Haskell preparations, as was Core Beliefs, who arrived Tuesday afternoon from Southern California for trainer Peter Eurton and has settled nicely into the environs.

“He’s a little antsy and can be tough to deal with and can be a bit nervous in his stall, so he goes out as the first horse in the first set every day,” trainer Kelly Breen said of Roaming Union, who went through a routine gallop. “We’re going to keep him calm and cool until Sunday.”

The activity and atmosphere in the Breen barn are markedly different than 2015, when Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was bedded there during his Haskell week stay and attracted constant attention from the media, racetrackers and fans.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who holds the record with eight Haskell winners (2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2005, 2002, 2001), likes to have his horses in the Breen barn when he sends them to Monmouth.

“This is the lucky barn,” said Breen. “Five of Bob’s Haskell winners were in my barn. I might have to move Roaming Union into American Pharoah’s stall for good luck.”

Golden Brown, meanwhile, jogged one mile, galloped one-half mile to the gate for a schooling lesson, and then galloped another half-mile before heading back to the barn. He’ll also go to the paddock for some extra lessons leading up to the race.

“He is a sweetheart in the barn, but when he gets out onto the track he’s different. The exercise rider really needs to take a good hold,” said McBurney. “Sometimes he’s good in the paddock and sometimes not. The first time he ran here, he was the worst I’d ever seen him.”

But Golden Brown was perfectly behaved before his win in the Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park in his last race. McBurney hopes for the same come Haskell day.

“There was a big crowd and a lot of noise and activity that day and he handled it. There will be another big crowd hereSunday and I expect he’ll do the same,” he said.