Haskell Stakes Highlights Triple Crown Returners

Haskell Main Event Set for Monmouth Park

Saturday’s $1 million Grade I Haskell at Monmouth Park packs seven starters, a field where all but one have logged Triple Crown prep experience. The Gun Runner colt, fresh off a dominant Grade III Matt Winn victory, carries favor at the head of the betting, while “Further Ado” watches from the sidelines after a lackluster Kentucky Derby run. Napoleon Solo and Iron Honor, the 1‑2 finishers in the Preakness, also contend, and the veteran “Puma” returns after a nose‑second in the Florida Derby.

Each contender brings recent momentum: Baby Vino, one of two local runners, finally snapped a five‑race drought at Oaklawn before crushing the Pegasus Stakes by 10 ¾ lengths. The Haskell winner, particularly if it’s a proven Grade I star like Further Ado or Napoleon Solo, could instantly challenge Golden Tempo for divisional supremacy. The race serves as a “Win and You’re In” berth for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Triple Crown Alumni and New Faces

Of the seven entries, only one missed a Triple Crown prep, underscoring the depth of experience at this level. Napoleon Solo and Iron Honor finished on the podium at the Preakness, while the elusive “Puma” was sidelined in the Kentucky Derby after a narrow second in the Florida Derby. Baby Vino’s late‑blooming performance in the Pegasus Stakes highlights the competitive resurgence across the field.

Fans will also watch the Gun Runner colt, now the Haskell favorite, after his valiant but 11th‑place Derby effort. His rebound victory in the Matt Winn signaled a return to top form and positions him as a key threat in the $1 million contest.

Journalism’s Long Road Back

Journalism, the 2025 Preakness and prior Haskell victor, has yet to taste victory since his Monmouth Park triumph a year ago. He’s posted a series of modest placings—second, fourth, third, and third—over the past 12 months, and eyes a return to the winner’s circle in Saturday’s $300,000 Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. The former champion will need another solid effort to re‑ignite his campaign.

While he currently trails in division standings, a strong performance in the San Diego could set the stage for a renewed challenge against newer contenders.

Sprint and Distaff Highlights

Book’em Danno, the Eclipse Award‑winning male sprint champion, holds the odds‑on spot in Friday’s $100,000 Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park. The 5‑year‑old Bucchero geldman capped a five‑race win streak last season with a Grade I Forego victory and remains competitive after a strong Carter finish and a June 6 True North win. Meanwhile, Banishing, a Group 2 Godolphin Mile winner, is the favorite for Saturday’s $175,000 Jeff Hall Memorial at Ellis Park.

Distaff action features Splendora, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint champion, and Alpine Princess as co‑favorites in the $500,000 Grade II Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park. Splendora has won six of her last seven races and recently stretched to two turns with a win in the Grade II Shawnee at Churchill Downs. The Woodbine Oaks, a $500,000 Canadian‑restricted event for Canadian‑bred fillies, also lures attention as the first leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara.

Katie’s Grace Prepares for the Canadian Triple Tiara

Katie’s Grace, seen here training for Sunday’s Woodbine Oaks, is part of a seven‑horse field in the first leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara. The $500,000 (Canadian) race, run on Woodbine’s all‑weather surface, restricts entries to homegrown fillies, adding a local flavor to the weekend’s major events.

International Racing: France and Ireland

In France, Bastille Day at Longchamp produced a dramatic Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris, won by Maltese Cross after a late squeeze over British rival Ancient Egypt by a head. Alam held third, just a neck in front of favorite Varandir, while Coolmore’s Causeway faded to last. The day also saw Behrayana claim the Group 2 Prix de Malleret for three‑year‑old fillies, edging Pink Panthera by a neck.

Ireland’s Joseph Patrick O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle sent out Sons and Lovers to victory in the Group 2 Prix 2 Maurice de Nieuil, denying Francis Graffard’s Parachutiste by a head at 1 ¾ miles. Their success sets the stage for Saturday’s Group 1 Irish Oaks at the Curragh, where Frankel filly Thundering On, a Betfred Oaks winner from last place, faces a field that includes Johanna Walsh, Rebel Moon, and a record‑eight‑time winner Aidan O’Brien’s Amelia Earhart.

Other Notable Races This Weekend

The United Nations Stakes returns for its $500,000 Grade II purse at Monmouth Park, preserving its historic name without foreign entries. On the turf, Portfolio Duration is the clear favorite for Saturday’s $500,000 Grade I Dunkin’ Diana at Saratoga, boasting three wins and two near‑misses from five starts and a recent Grade 1 New York Stakes victory.

Additional stakes include the $300,000 Grade III Winstar Matchmaker at Monmouth, the $200,000 Grade II San Clemente at Del Mar, the $175,000 (Canadian) Grade II Nassau at Woodbine, and Friday’s $150,000 De La Rose at Saratoga. Sprint action continues with the $225,000 Grade III Coronation Cup for fillies at Saratoga, where Cy Fair, a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner, has won four of six starts and exits a victorious Mamzelle at Churchill Downs.

If weather forces the Coronation Cup off the turf, trainer George Weaver has slated Cy Fair in the $225,000 Grade III Quick Call Stakes for three‑year‑olds, a 5 ½‑furlong contest where she is the morning‑line favorite despite facing colts and geldings.

Weekender’s Sprint and Turf Fields

On the sprint circuit, Book’em Danno and Banishing headline Friday and Saturday events, respectively, while the $100,000 Regret at Monmouth Park pits potential returnee Kilwin against the also‑entered Twirling Candy for Sunday’s $175,000 Twin Bridges at Ellis Park. Kilwin, a Grade I Test winner at Saratoga last summer, could be a shoo‑in for the Regret if her form returns.

Turf competition also includes the $150,000 Oceanside Stakes for three‑year‑olds at Del Mar, featuring a full 12‑horse field, and the $100,000 Wickerr, a mile race that has drawn a familiar group of top contenders.

Major Championships and Future Dates

A dozen Canadian‑bred fillies are entered for the $150,000 (Canadian) Plate Trial on Woodbine’s all‑weather surface, setting up the 167th King’s Plate scheduled for August 15. The Plate Trial highlights Canada’s growing presence in the Triple Crown series and points to a busy late‑summer schedule.

For American fans, the Haskell and the accompanying Grade II San Diego Handicap represent pivotal fall prep events, offering clear pathways to the Breeders’ Cup Classic and providing early glimpses of which horses will challenge for year‑end honors.