Handicapping the Grade 1 Haskell

By Rick Francis —-

Monmouth Park

Race 12) Grade 1 Haskell Invitational 3yo 1&1/8th Miles Post Time 5:45 EDT

6) Good Magic – enters rested after staying close throughout to Justify in the Grade 1 Preakness; Breeders’Cup Juvenile and Bluegrass winner needed this spot, will be the one to catch.

1) Lone Sailor – still a maiden winner but he’s been knocking on the door and hard. Gave up the lead last out in the Ohio Derby losing by a nose and suffered a similar fate in the Louisiana Derby going down by a neck; can he hang on here?

4) Core Beliefs – has shown steady improvement in each of his last three; showing in the Santa Anita Derby, placing in the Peter Pan and winning the Ohio Derby last out, a definite trend you want to see in 3-year-olds.

5) Bravazo – Risen Star winner just missed in the Preakness, but stat is deceiving as Justify was in hand; he’s known to put together a couple of clunkers before righting himself, and his Belmont was just that.

Selections: 6, 1, 4, 5

The field from the rail out:

1) Lone Sailor (Amoss/Bravo)
2) Navy Commander (Reid/Arroyo)
3) Roaming Union (Breen/Jimenez)
4) Core Beliefs (Eurton/Prat)
5) Bravazo (Lukas/Saez)
6) Good Magic )Brown/Ortiz, J)
7) Golden Brown (McBurney/Rendon)