Expert Pick of the Week: Haskell Stakes
Jul 17, 2020
An excellent field of seven will travel 1 1/8 miles on the dirt at Monmouth Park in Saturday’s $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1). The 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby series event will offer qualifying points to the first four to cross the wire on a 100-40-20-10 basis.
Trainer Bob Baffert has a record eight wins in the race and will send out morning-line choice Authentic as the one to beat. But I will side elsewhere in the marquee race of the meeting.
St. Elias Stable’s Dr Post has made quite the impression on me from a trio of outings in 2020. The Todd Pletcher trainee exits a fine runner-up showing in the Belmont S. (G1) behind the mighty Tiz the Law, and the lightly-raced colt could take another step forward in the Haskell. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.
Dr Post broke his maiden in smart fashion going seven panels at Gulfstream Park in March when earning a 104 Brisnet Speed number, and he has progressed in a pair of races going a route of ground since.
The $400,000 Quality Road colt made his black-type debut in the Unbridled S. at Gulfstream on April 25 and overcame an awful trip to win going away late. In the subsequent Belmont, the colt traveled wide throughout but was easily second best in his first attempt at the 1 1/8-mile distance.
The Monmouth main surface doesn’t always play to contenders that come from off the pace, but this year’s edition will offer a fast early tempo with a few contenders knocking heads in the early stages. I think Dr Post will save ground early under Joe Bravo while keeping touch with the leaders, prior to wearing them down inside the final furlong.
Dr Post winning the Haskell is the Best Bet of the Week
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