Although the $1 million Haskell (G1) is the only “Win and You’re In” event at Monmouth Park on Saturday, the Jersey Shore’s stakes-laden program figures to have additional Breeders’ Cup implications. Chief among them is the presence of reigning Distaff (G1) champion Idiomatic in the $500,000 Molly Pitcher (G3), one of five stakes on the undercard.
Molly Pitcher (G3) – Race 6 (2:24 p.m. ET)
Idiomatic clinched the Eclipse Award as champion older dirt female with her victory in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff, notching her fifth straight win. The Brad Cox trainee picked up where she left off in the May 3 La Troienne (G1), but her winning skein was snapped by a narrow reverse last time in the Ogden Phipps (G1). Idiomatic just failed to reel in a loose-on-the-lead Randomized, who had been runner-up in the Distaff, and a different trip might well have preserved her streak. The Juddmonte homebred doesn’t face a rival of the same caliber in the 1 1/16-mile Molly Pitcher, where she towers over her six opponents.
The only other graded winners in the field, Kathleen O. and Soul of an Angel, have more to prove. Kathleen O., who lost her way after scoring her signature wins on the 2022 Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail at Gulfstream Park, finally regained the winner’s circle in the May 12 Serena’s Song S. here. Soul of An Angel sprang a 24-1 upset of the May 4 Ruffian (G2), toppling a ring-rusty Randomized, but could get no nearer than fifth in the Ogden Phipps rematch.
Misty Veil, coming off a career-best romp in the Lady Jacqueline S. at Thistledown, would have offered greater interest. Trainer Mike Maker cross-entered her to the Shuvee (G2) at Saratoga on Sunday, however, and Daily Racing Form‘s Marcus Hersh reports that she’ll run at the Spa.
Monmouth Cup (G3) – Race 10 (4:38 p.m. ET)
Cox also has a prime contender in the $400,000 Monmouth Cup (G3) in late-maturing Highland Falls. Godolphin’s homebred son of Curlin and Round Pond was knocking on the door with a fourth in the Santa Anita H. (G1) and a runner-up effort in the Oaklawn H. (G2) before prevailing in the Blame (G3).
In contrast, 2023 Triple Crown competitor Tapit Trice makes his belated reappearance for Todd Pletcher. The $1.3 million son of Tapit had landed the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and Blue Grass (G1) prior to a rallying seventh in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Third in both the Belmont (G1) and Travers (G1), Tapit Trice resumes from an 11-month layoff in this spot.
Fellow shippers Kuchar and Stage Raider are the only other entrants with graded experience. Kuchar was fifth in the Suburban (G2) in his latest, while the mercurial Stage Raider is eligible to improve from his comeback fourth in the Salvator Mile (G3).
United Nations (G2) – Race 11 (5:09 p.m. ET)
Haskell Day’s richest turf feature, the $600,000 United Nations (G2), has been a happy hunting ground for both Maker and Chad Brown. Maker has won three in the past seven years, while Brown boasts a total of five winners. Yet Saturday’s renewal of the 1 3/8-mile test might signal a change of trend, given the depth of representation for other horsemen.
Trainer Christophe Clement could have the one to beat in Far Bridge. Last year’s Belmont Derby (G1) hero was most recently third in the Manhattan (G1) to the globetrotting Godolphin pair of Measured Time and Nations Pride. Familiar foe Webslinger, another mainstay of the 2023 sophomore turf brigade, has had his share of frustrating trips but rolled in time in the June 15 Chorleywood Overnight S. at Churchill Downs. Webslinger’s trainer, Mark Casse, has both tactical ends covered with front-running Get Smokin as well. Note that he’ll have company with Naipaul Chatterpaul’s free-wheeling So High.
Pletcher, a four-time United Nations winner, tries a distance experiment with multiple graded veteran Emmanuel. Wertheimer et Frere’s homebred Dataman brings an upwardly mobile profile for Graham Motion, with back-to-back stakes wins in the Henry Clark S. at Laurel and the May 25 Cliff Hanger S. over this course.
Maker’s Starting Over has not raced since landing the March 2 Mac Diarmida (G2). Brown’s Adhamo has endured a losing streak since capturing the 2022 United Nations. Stablemate Running Bee dead-heated for the win in the local prep, the June 15 Monmouth (G3), with the hitherto underachieving Fort Washington from the Shug McGaughey barn. The duo renew their rivalry here with a few others – including Clement’s near-miss third Tawny Port, seventh Adhamo, and Pletcher’s Grand Sonata – in a deeper main event.
Matchmaker (G3) – Race 5 (1:52 p.m. ET)
Brown has dominated the turf stakes for distaffers, the $300,000 Matchmaker (G3), winning the past four years in a row and seven of the last nine runnings. He’s triple-handed on Saturday with up-and-coming Delahaye, who broke through in the June 2 Mint Julep (G3); Beaute Cachee, who stole the Jenny Wiley (G1) two back as a 25-1 longshot; and Mama Joon, an excellent closing second in the June 15 Eatontown (G3) despite an unfavorable pace scenario. Also advancing from that local stepping stone is the George Weaver-trained Sacred Wish, a traffic-stymied fourth in the Eatontown.
Surprisingly, second in both the Matchmaker and Eatontown last summer, has continued to progress since joining Pletcher this term. Notably runner-up to Didia in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2), she exits a fourth to the same celebrity in a stellar New York (G1). Olivia Maralda likewise drops in class after mixing it up with a divisional heavyweight, Anisette, when second in the Gamely (G1). Grade 2 veteran Papilio returns to graded company after a confidence-boosting allowance score.
The lone non-graded stakes on the card is the $100,000 Wolf Hill S. (race 9 at 4:05 p.m. ET). Arzak, best of the rest behind record-setting Cogburn in the Jaipur (G1), tops the 5 1/2-furlong turf dash. Other contenders include defending champ Alogon and last-out Mighty Beau S. victor Nothing Better.
