Handicapping the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational

By Rick Francis —-

As neighboring tracks have cancelled their Saturday race cards due to excessive heat, the 51st running of the Grade 1 TVG.com Haskell Invitational will go to post.

MONMOUTH PARK

Race 12) 1&1/8th Mile TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. OM HASKELL INVITATIONAL S.. Grade I. Purse $1,000,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS. Post Time: ( 5:47)/ 4:47/ 3:47/ 2:47
ADVANCED FORECAST: Mostly Sunny, High 97, Low 80.

1) King for a Day (Pletcher/Velazquez); got the perfect trip in defeating Maximum Security in the Pegasus last month; with the added sixteenth and a hot pace brought by Joevia, he’ll be the one fading in the stretch.

2) Joevia (Sacco/Lezcano); Shanghai Bobby colt will set the early pace bringing King along with him; this one will handle the distance.

3) Spun to Run (Guerrero/Lopez); Hard Spun colt is climbing the class ladder very nicely, breaking his maiden two back and last out defeating winners; the next rung on the ladder is a bit of a climb.

4) Bethlehem Road (Curry/Rodriguez); opened his racing career running off three straight wins; Ohio Derby effort proved he’s not of this level yet.

5) Mucho Gusto (Baffert/Talamo); four of his five wins have come against graded company, including last two in the G3’s Laz Barrera and Affirmed, both at Santa Anita. Quick work tab as you would expect from Baffert starters; a win threat.

6) Everfast (Romans/Leparoux); aside from his Preakness effort two back, Take Charge Indy colt will go off a deserving double-digits once again.

7) Maximum Security (Servis/Saez); if you don’t think his troubled start last out cost him late, then you don’t like him here; I think it did. The first horse to cross the Kentucky Derby finish line gets a hard fought, and redemption win.

Selections: 7, 5, 2, 1