Expert Pick of the Week: 2023 Haskell Stakes

Jul 19, 2023 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A
fantastic field of eight three-year-olds will travel nine furlongs on the
Monmouth Park dirt in Saturday’s $1 million Haskell S. (G1).

The highlight of
the local summer meeting attracted a standout group of sophomores led by
Kentucky Derby (G1) victor Mage. Trained by Gustavo Delgado, the Good Magic
colt will make his first appearance since finishing a commendable third in the
Preakness S. (G1), and with just five lifetime tries to his credit, the
chestnut has room to improve in this endeavor. He is the Expert Pick of the
Week.

Mage gave a fine account of himself at
first asking at Gulfstream Park when leading at every call while going seven
panels, but he has proven to be more than a need-the-lead type while running
from well off of the early pace in his last four assignments. The $290,000
juvenile purchase had little chance behind a dawdling tempo at Pimlico last
time out but will receive robust fractions to rally into in the stretch on
Saturday. He has been training in good fashion in preparation for his first
local spin, and the Kentucky-bred retains the services of Javier Castellano, as
well.

Conditioner
Bob Baffert has endured overwhelming success in the event with a ridiculous
16-9-6-1 line in the lucrative race, and he will saddle unbeaten
Arabian Knight,who breaks from the
outside post. Purchased for $2.3 million as a two-year-old, the Uncle Mo colt
has never been headed from a pair of lifetime races to date, led by a facile
stroll in the Southwest S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park in January. The exciting prospect
blitzed six panels in a bullet 1:11 at Santa Anita in his latest morning drill
to signal his readiness for his initial try at 1 1/8 miles. John Velazquez will
be in the stirrups.

The
Richard Mandella-conditioned
Geaux
Rocket Ride
was an easy winner of the Affirmed S. in his latest try and got
a cozy rail draw for his Monmouth bow. The bay son of Candy Ride has early foot
but proved last time he can rally from off the pace when he has to, and that
versatile running style will come in handy in a race with speed drawn on his
outside. The Kentucky-bred colt hasn’t missed a morning drill in advance of
Saturday, and he will be well-positioned throughout this run with Mike Smith
inheriting the ride.

Expert Pick

An
exacta with
#4 Mage on top of #8 Arabian Knight and #1 Geaux Rocket Ride in the 2023
Haskell Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.