Haskell Invitational Handicap Betting Preview
by Bodog Sportsbook | Jul 31 2009
You won't see Rachel Alexandra at the Breeders' Cup. But you will find her at
Monmouth Park this Sunday for the prestigious $1.25-million
Haskell Invitational Handicap.
The decision to avoid this year's
Breeders' Cup came down Tuesday from owner Jess Jackson, who says he doesn't want his prize filly running on the synthetic track at
Santa Anita. Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen have so far done a perfect job of setting their horse up for success; Rachel Alexandra is 6-for-6 this year, including the Preakness Stakes - all on dirt. That's what she'll be running on at Monmouth.
Rachel Alexandra comes into this race with few obstacles. This is a familiar distance for her at 1-1/8 miles. She drew Post 6 in a seven-horse field, improving her chances at a clean run with no traffic jams - very important given the sloppy conditions in Sunday's forecast. Her exercise rider, Dominic Terry, was very impressed with Monday's workout in
Saratoga (four furlongs in 49.23 seconds). And Rachel Alexandra is coming off last month's 19-length victory at the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park.
The field for the Haskell will be tougher than the one she destroyed at Belmont - that race was for fillies, and Rachel Alexandra already proved herself dominant at that level when she took the Kentucky Oaks by 20-1/4 lengths. But it was still a useful tune-up event. The other Triple Crown winner in this race, Summer Bird, has yet to compete since pulling off the big upset at the Belmont Stakes.
Here's the seven-horse field in order of post position. Check out the
Racebook at
www.bodog.com for the odds as they become available.
1. Duke of Mischief: This Florida-bred chestnut colt won the Iowa Derby as a 13-1 long shot; he'll be ridden by Eibar Coa, twice the leading jockey at Monmouth.
2. Summer Bird: Arrived at the Monmouth stables on July 3. Jockey Kent Desormeaux admitted he didn't like the sloppy track during last Sunday's workout, although Summer Bird (five furlongs in 1:01.80) handled it well.
3. Papa Clem: Holds a victory over Summer Bird at the Grade II Arkansas Derby. His regular jockey, Rafael Bejarano, was injured at Del Mar last week and will be replaced by Monmouth's current leading jockey, Elvis Trujillo.
4. Munnings: The projected second favorite for the Haskell crown might not have the legs to go this distance. Trainer Todd Pletcher also brought 2006 winner Bluegrass Cat and 2007 winner Any Given Saturday to Monmouth.
5. Atomic Rain: Appears ready to go for Sunday after developing a sore hoof earlier this week. Beat Papa Clem for the Long Branch Stakes prep at Monmouth, but has missed several days of training because of the injury.
6. Rachel Alexandra: Rachel has seven straight wins dating back to last year and has never finished worse than second.
7. Bunker Hill: The long shot in this race is a full-time resident at Monmouth, and will be running with blinkers.
