Mr. Jordan Prepares To Take On American Pharoah

With the anticipation building for the arrival and running of Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah in Monmouth Park’s signature event, $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational on Aug. 2, the field begins to take shape with Eddie Plesa Jr.’s Mr. Jordan among the charge of those already stabled at Monmouth.

Mr. Jordan is coming out of the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes earlier in the meet where he sat second, just off the early pacesetter Tekton, before coming even with the leader and taking the lead into the stretch. Tekton fought back gamely late in the stretch, but couldn’t get to Mr. Jordan who scored the win by a head.

“He came out of the Pegasus 100 percent,” said Plesa Jr., who conditions the horse for Laurie Plesa and David Melin. “We couldn’t be happier with how he is doing.”

Mr. Jordan has most recently worked over the Monmouth Park main track on July 15, where he went four furlongs in :49 3/5.

Even going up against the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 hasn’t changed Plesa Jr.’s strategy going into the race.

“It will all depend on the pace of the race and how it develops,” said Plesa Jr. “The size of field won’t matter into our game plan. We aren’t going to change what has been working for us.”

The 3-year-old colt by Kantharos out of the Cloud Hopping mare Miss Skeetd broke his maiden at Monmouth Park last year and went on to win multiple stakes as a 2-year-old including the Juvenile Sprint and Smooth Air Stakes at Gulfstream Park West.

The William Hill Haskell will be televised live on NBC and is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Series, with the victor getting an automatic berth to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31.         

Grandstand admission will be sold the day of the race for $6 with Clubhouse admission slated for $9. Gates will open at 9 a.m., with first post coming at 11:30 a.m.

Source: Monmouth Park