Haskell

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

If RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d’Oro) was ever going to face the boys again
following her historic victory in the Preakness S. (G1), she wasn’t going to
find a more ideal spot than Sunday’s $1,250,000 Haskell Invitational (G1) at
Monmouth Park. We say this not because of the competition she faces, which will
present a good challenge for her, but the nine-furlong distance and the way the
local surface traditionally plays toward horses with her running style make
this such a suitable race to pad an already rich resume.

Now that Rachel is here and her male rivals are known, we expect another
winning performance from the Steve Asmussen trainee, who seeks to follow in the
hoofsteps of champion Serena’s Song, who in 1995 became the first and only filly
to date to win this important summertime test. Unbeaten in six starts this year,
she has all the necessary tools to prevail again. She’s simply the best
three-year-old of either sex around, period. We’ll stick our neck out and
predict a professional, if not comfortable, win. It’s much harder for Rachel to
dominate colts the way she does other fillies, but she still figures to get to
the wire first.

MUNNINGS (Speightstown) is in peak condition following scores in the Woody
Stephens S. (G2) and Tom Fool H. (G2), both at seven furlongs. Distance is
obviously an issue, but we think his tactical foot and good form can carry him a
long way in this contest. We prefer the filly at this trip, but if handled
rightly this one can hang on for a major slice.

SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone), the Belmont S. (G1) winner, has had the benefit of
training at Monmouth for the past month, but unless the leaders completely
collapse it’s hard to envision his deep-closing style being effective here. He
probably wants more distance and this should serve as a good prep for the
Travers S. (G1) later this month.

DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme Hall) is a vastly improving colt who earned a
remarkable BRIS Late Pace figure of 116 when romping by five lengths in the Iowa
Derby last time. Unfortunately, he is likely to spot Rachel Alexandra several
lengths in the early stages and will need to get into the race sooner than usual
to have a chance at the upset. We intend to use him liberally in our exotics
plans.

PAPA CLEM (Smart Strike), the Arkansas Derby (G2) winner, is presumably better than
his distant third in the Long Branch S. would suggest, but we still don’t like
the fact he didn’t fare better that day despite a slow start. This field is far
better than what he faced there, and he finished nearly eight lengths in back of
Rachel in the Preakness. ATOMIC RAIN (Smart Strike), the Long Branch winner, has
been battling a sore foot all week and is not guaranteed to start. We feel
everything generally has to go perfect for a horse to win a race of this
caliber, and we’ll take a stand against given his recent infirmities. BUNKER
HILL (Trippi) is a nice horse but not of this caliber. Last out he was seven
lengths adrift of Big Drama (Montbrook), who bolted for West Virginia when
Rachel Alexandra was confirmed as a Haskell starter.