Holy Bull winner Hades is aimed for Monmouth's Haskell Stakes

D.J. Stable and Robert Cotran’s graded stakes-winner Hades is likely to make his next two starts at Monmouth Park with an eye toward a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes traveling nine furlongs on July 20.

Trained by Joe Orseno, the Awesome Slew sophomore won his first three starts, all at Gulfstream Park, in impressive fashion culminating in a win in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull (G3), where he bested next-out graded stakes-winners Domestic Product and Fierceness.

Hades finished a distant fifth in the Florida Derby (G1) won by Fierceness and followed with a seventh-place finish in the Lexington (G3) on April 13 at Keeneland.

“We found he had a little minor problem that we had to correct and give him a little time. I'd like to be in the Preakness but we're doing the right thing,” Orseno said.

Orseno said Hades will train towards the 1 1/16-mile Listed $150,000 Pegasus on June 15 at Monmouth, the local prep for the lucrative Haskell.

“I'm getting him ready for the prep to the Haskell and if he handles that there's a chance he'll show up at Saratoga,” Orseno said.

Robert Cotran’s Eamonn could make his next start in the $500,000 Jaipur (G1) on Belmont Stakes day on June 8 at Saratoga. The 5 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up offers a “win and you’re in” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November at Del Mar.

The 6-year-old Pioneerof the Nile horse has banked $405,952 through a 32: 7-6-3 record. He won the Select last year at Monmouth traveling 5 1/2-furlongs over firm turf and completed the trifecta in a trio of stakes to launch his current campaign, including a close third in the  Shakertown (G2) going 5 1/2-furlongs over good going on April 6 at Keeneland. He was last seen finish sixth after exiting post 12-of-14 in the Turf Sprint (G2) on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs.

“He's doing great. We're talking about running him it the Jaipur at Saratoga. He always shows up,” Orseno said.

Orseno said the late-running Eamonn would have preferred the extra half-furlong offered when the Jaipur is contested at Belmont Park.

“He shipped to Monmouth and we'll train him there,” Orseno said. “I'm a little disappointed it's not at Belmont where it was a little farther distance for him, but as long as he has good pace to run at, we're OK. He doesn’t like a soft turf, but other than that he always tries.”

Mattingly will go to bat for Orseno in Sunday’s Listed $150,000 Paradise Creek, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for sophomores. The Bucchero colt, who will exit post 3 under Trevor McCarthy, captured the Hollywood Beach in September over the Gulfstream synthetic.

Orseno said the versatile Mattingly will race rain or shine.