seven challengers in Sunday’s $1 million Haskell Invitational H. (G1) at
Monmouth Park. A three-time Grade 2 winner, the dark bay will break from post 4
with jockey Jerry Bailey and exits a half-length score over Flower Alley
(Distorted Humor) in the Dwyer S. (G2) at Belmont Park. That rival captured the
Jim Dandy S. (G2) by 5 1/4 lengths in his next start, and Roman Ruler is a major
threat to improve off his last race for trainer Bob Baffert.
Multiple Grade 3 victor SUN KING (Charismatic) is the 5-2 second choice on
the morning line and enters the 1 1/8-mile Haskell off a 5 3/4-length romp in
the Leonard Richards S. (G3) at Delaware Park. The Nick Zito trainee will be
ridden by Javier Castellano. PARK AVENUE BALL (Citidancer), a three-time winner
over the main track at Monmouth, is listed at 3-1 and will go forth for
conditioner Jim Ryerson. The Grade 2-winning New Jersey-bred captured the Long
Branch Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) by 6 1/4 lengths. Another high-profile entrant is
Long Branch runner-up CHEKHOV (Pulpit), who cost $3.3 million as a two-year-old
and has trained forwardly at Saratoga for Patrick Biancone.
PALLADIO (Lycius), who recorded his second straight stakes win when taking
the Ohio Derby (G2) last out, breaks from the rail under a 118-pound impost that
includes jockey Richard dos Ramos and is listed at 10-1 on the morning line.
Next comes Park Avenue Ball, Chris DeCarlo, 118; PAPI CHULLO (Comeonmom), David
Lopez, 116, 15-1; Roman Ruler, 119; Sun King, 119; GOLDEN MAN (Suave Prospect),
Chuck Lopez, 117, 15-1; JOEY P (Close Up), Aaron Gryder, 116, 15-1; and Chekhov,
Gary Stevens, 116, 6-1.