Three key plays for DerbyWars' $10,000 Haskell day contest
The $10,000 Haskell Day Game at DerbyWars.com is the site's top contest action on Saturday. With the heat wave closing most of the tracks in the East, this $230 buy-in handicapping game will have the best thoroughbred action available.
The contest is scheduled to begin at 3:23 p.m. ET and will cover Races 8-12 from Monmouth Park along with Races 6-10 from Woodbine. It features the Haskell Invitational from the New Jersey Shore track. In addition to prize money, the winner will get an entry into the $25,000 Whitney Day Game, and the second through fourth finishers will also get an entry into a $10,000 game next week.
Here are three plays to consider from the stakes races on the Haskell Day card at Monmouth:
Race 9: Monmouth
The Wolf Hill is a 5 ½ furlong turf sprint. Mai Ty One On is listed at 7-2 in the morning but should go off at higher odds because his last two starts include a second and a fifth in allowances at Belmont. Just three weeks ago, he had a bad trip that does not show up in his running line. He was stuck on the rail, tried to get outside, found no room, was forced back on the rail and lost all chance to contend. The Monmouth Park-based runner gets the services of Paco Lopez on his home track.
Race 10: Monmouth
The Monmouth Cup (G3) will feature a big favorite in Coal Front from the Todd Pletcher barn who could have difficulty getting the nine-furlong distance. At a much better price, the probable fourth choice Lemonade Thursday is the horse to use. He ran a career-best race in his 2019 debut at Monmouth for trainer Arnaud Delacour when switching from turf to dirt. Paco Lopez gets the return mount after putting this colt right behind the pace setter in that victory.
Race 12: Monmouth
One of the last two races on the contest slate is the Haskell itself. At that late stage in the game you may be shopping for a bigger price, or if you are at the top of the leaderboard you might just be hoping for a winner to pad your bankroll.
In this contest you score points for win, place, and show -- thus a higher-priced horse can pay more for place and show than a favorite would return if it wins. In the Haskell, Maximum Security is listed as the 8-5 favorite in the morning line but could be an even shorter price due to his popularity. He is a likely winner, but to me King for a Day is an improving 3-year-old who beat the favorite last time out at Monmouth Park.
For an even bigger price, Everfast, the second-place finisher in the Preakness, provides the value at 10-1 on the morning line. He is the only closer in a field loaded with horses who prefer to be on or near the lead. He is likely to be passing tired horses down the stretch to get in the money.
Good luck!