Ohio Derby (G2) winner PALLADIO (Lycius) has been confirmed for Sunday’s $1
million Haskell Invitational H. (G1) at Monmouth Park. The bay worked five
furlongs in a bullet 1:00 4/5 over a fast training track at Woodbine on Tuesday
and is scheduled to ship to the New Jersey seaside oval on Thursday evening.
“He worked very well yesterday,” trainer Roger Attfield said. “He was very
sharp and so we decided to give it a go.”
Prior to winning the nine-furlong Ohio Derby by one length on July 2,
Palladio rolled to a 4 1/2-length score in the nine-furlong Victoria Park S. at
Woodbine on June 12. Jockey Richard Dos Ramos retains the mount for the Haskell.
New Jersey-bred JOEY P. (Close Up), who was confirmed for the Haskell on
Tuesday, breezed four furlongs in :50 over a fast track at Monmouth Park on
Wednesday.
“I’ll blow him out a quarter-mile on Saturday morning to sharpen him up for
the race,” trainer Frank Costa said.
The Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) winner suffered his first career defeat
in his first start around two turns in an allowance race on July 22. Aaron Gryder has the call.
Dwyer S. (G2) winner ROMAN RULER (Fusaichi Pegasus), who has been assigned
top weight of 119 pounds, is the likely favorite for the nine-furlong Haskell
and will ship to Monmouth Park from Del Mar on Thursday for trainer Bob Baffert.