Haskell 2023: In-depth analysis, pluses, minuses on all 8 horses

Oceanport, N.J.

The Grade 1, 1 1/8-mile, $1 million Haskell Stakes drew a field of eight 3-year-olds led by Kentucky Derby champion Mage and Arabian Knight, who is trained by the nine-time Haskell winning trainer Bob Baffert.

The Haskell is a win-and-you’re-in qualifier for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, with the winner receiving an all-expenses paid trip to the Nov. 4 event at Santa Anita and a guaranteed berth in the starting gate.

Here is a full-field analysis for the Haskell Stakes with the official track morning-line odds. Monmouth Park’s signature race is scheduled as race 12 of 14 with post time set for 5:47 p.m. EDT.

1. Geaux Rocket Ride, 9-2. Candy Ride – Richard Mandella / Mike Smith – 3: 2-1-0 - $180,200. Geaux Rocket Ride is lightly raced for Richard Mandella, who does not ship horses to the East Coast very often. He was a debut winner in January at Santa Anita by almost six lengths. The son of Candy Ride stepped up to the San Felipe (G2), where he was second behind the highly regarded Practical Move. Geaux Rocket Ride was off for three months heading into his victory in the Affirmed Stakes. Mandella won the Haskell in 2000 with Dixie Union with the only runner he ever had in the race. He is flashed lots of talent in his three starts. Top choice.

2. Awesome Strong, 30-1. Awesome Slew – Jorge Delgado / Jose Bastista – 5: 4-0-0 - $459,200. Awesome Strong won the first four starts of his career as a 2-year-old, with three of them in Florida Stallion Series stakes races at Gulfsteam Park. He was fifth in his 2023 debut at Delaware Park in an allowance sprint last month. He faces a serious class challenge in the Haskell. Toss.

3. Salute the Stars, 8-1. Candy Ride – Brad Cox / Joel Rosario – 4: 3-1-0 - $210,960. Salute the Stars moved to the barn of Brad Cox after a pair of turf starts, including his maiden victory at Ellis Park as a 2-year-old. Cox, who won the Haskell the last two years, moved Salute the Stars to the main track, where he won twice with neck victories. Last month he won the Pegasus at Monmouth, defeating Kingsbarns who won the Louisiana Derby (G2). The morning-line odds make the son of Candy Ride an attractive betting opportunity. Live long shot.

4. Mage, 3-1. Good Magic – Gustavo Delgado / Javier Castellano – 5: 2-1-1 - $2,228,700. The Kentucky Derby winner returns to the races after finishing third in the Preakness. He is the leading money winner in the field with $2.2 million in earnings. The connections of Mage made a last-minute decision to kick off his summer campaign in the Haskell with an eye on the Travers (G1)as their primary goal. Not sure that he will be at 100 percent fitness, and getting far behind in the early going is not advisable at Monmouth Park. Use underneath.

5. Tapit Trice, 3-1. Tapit – Todd Pletcher / Luis Saez – 7: 4-0-2 - $1,033,650. Tapit Trice won four races in a row, including the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and the Blue Grass (G1) on his way to a seventh in the Kentucky Derby and a third in the Belmont Stakes. Trainer Todd Pletcher has three wins in the Haskell but none since 2013 with Verrazano. Tapit Trice owns one of the best speed figures in the field, second to only Mage’s win in the run for the roses. A stalking trip would be ideal for the gray colt. Win contender.

6. Howgreatisnate, 20-1. Speightster – Elizabeth Dobles / Pac Lopez – 8: 5-0-1 - $243,900. Howgreatisnate leads the field in victories, with three of them coming in stakes races at three tracks including the Long Branch at Monmouth. He was third in the Pegasus at the New Jersey track in the toughest field of his career and finished behind Salute the Stars, who is in the field, and Grade 2 winner Kingsbarns. Toss.

7. Extra Anejo, 5-1. Into Mischief – Steve Asmussen / Tyler Gaffalione – 3: 2-1-0 - $157,185. Extra Anejo will make his stakes debut in his fourth start after an open-length victory in an allowance race at Ellis Park going a mile while pressing the pace. The $1.35 million yearling purchase was a heavy favorite in all three of his races, including a maiden victory at Keeneland in October. It is hard to know just how good Extra Anejo will be as he gains experience for Steve Asmussen, who won the Haskell in 2009 with the filly champion Rachel Alexandra. Use underneath.

8. Arabian Knight, 5-2. Uncle Mo – Bob Baffert / John Velazquez – 2: 2-0-0 - $544,275. Arabian Knight sold for $2.2 million as a 2-year-old and has made two starts. He won both of those races with visually impressive performances in a maiden race at Keeneland in November and then the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn in January. The front-running style of Arabian Knight is typical of Bob Baffert’s horses who won the Haskell nine times in the past. He had five long workouts in fast times, which is a pattern the trainer uses to have his runners come back at peak fitness. The one to beat.

Summary: Arabian Knight appears to be ready to win Baffert the Haskell for the 10th time. Workouts were designed to have him ready to go the nine furlongs at Monmouth. This will be the toughest field that he has faced in his third start, and he could be a shorter price than the 5-2 morning-line odds.

Richard Mandella does not ship horses to the East Coast very often, so Geaux Rocket Ride’s presence in the Haskell is attractive. He has tactical speed, which is vital at Monmouth, and will provide good value with odds that may exceed his morning line of 9-2. This son of Candy Ride will be the top choice.