Study Guide: 2024 Haskell Stakes

Jul 18, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Some of the best three-year-olds in the country are entered in Saturday's $1 million Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park.

The 1 1/8-mile dirt race is the first major summer target for Triple Crown alumni, and Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Fierceness is among the entries.

Let's analyze the field in horse-by-horse fashion:

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Dornoch

Start(s): 8
Wins: 4
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables
Breeder: Grandview Equine
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (106) when winning the Belmont (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $1,752,275

Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Puca
Color: Bay

Fresh off a pace-pressing victory in the Belmont (G1) at Saratoga, Dornoch enters the Haskell as a classic winner with more than $1.7 million in earnings. But he's done his best work when on or near the lead, so he'll need a sharp break from the rail post to have a fair shot at success. It's possible Dornoch will scratch to instead await next week's Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga.

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Jasper's Pride

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Prancing Horse Farm
Breeder: Law Legacy Stables
Trainer: Chuck Spina
Jockey: Jomar Torres

Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing third in a $30,000 allowance optional claimer at Monmouth Park.
Total Earnings: $94,639

Sire: Il Postino
Dam: Cherokee Champion
Color: Chestnut

Jasper's Pride has competed exclusively against New Jersey-bred rivals at Monmouth Park, winning two of his six starts. The Haskell is a tougher spot, and Jasper's Pride's career-best 88 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light.

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Tuscan Sky

Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Spendthrift Farm
Breeder: Sierra Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (100) when winning the Pegasus S. at Monmouth Park.
Total Earnings: $190,500

Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: South Andros
Color: Gray/roan

Tuscan Sky was a dominant winner of the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus S. at Monmouth last month, surviving a five-way pace battle to draw clear and win by 6 3/4 lengths. The son of Vino Rosso is progressing in the right direction for three-time Haskell-winning trainer Todd Pletcher and shouldn't be underestimated.

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Timberlake

Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: WinStar Farm and Siena Farm
Breeder: St. Elias Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (103) when finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $1,173,100

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Pin Up
Color: Bay

It's possible Timberlake wants to run a little shorter than 1 1/8 miles around two turns; his signature victory came when racing a one-turn mile in the Champagne (G1) last fall. But then again, Timberlake finished only half a length behind future Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan when fourth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) last time out. He's been freshened since that defeat and may bounce back at enticing odds for trainer Brad Cox, who has won two of the last three editions of the Haskell.

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Fierceness

Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: Repole Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (112) when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $1,703,850

Sire: City of Light
Dam: Nonna Bella
Color: Bay

The brilliant but inconsistent Fierceness has dominated the Florida Derby (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) with fast Brisnet Speed ratings, but he's also run far below form to finish off the board in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Champagne (G1). It's difficult to predict when Fierceness will bring his A-game, but on his best day, he's the fastest horse in the Haskell field. Sharp recent workouts suggest he's sitting on a big run at Monmouth, but will he actually enter the starting gate? He may scratch to await the Jim Dandy instead.

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Just Step On It

Start(s): 9
Wins: 3
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Bran Jam Stable and David W. Clark
Breeder: Larry Goichman
Trainer: Louis C. Linder Jr.
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Parx Racing.
Total Earnings: $121,150

Sire: Accelerate
Dam: Shea Darby
Color: Bay

Just Step On It has run some nice races against easier competition, most recently wiring a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Parx Racing. But he'll face a significant class test in the Haskell, where his career-best 94 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light.

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Mindframe

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables
Breeder: R. Larry Johnson
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (106) when winning his debut at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $447,360

Sire: Constitution
Dam: Walk of Stars
Color: Dark bay/brown

The lightly raced Mindframe had a shot to defeat Dornoch in the Belmont, but down the homestretch, he ducked our sharply in response to a left-handed whip, and in the end, fell half a length shy of victory. Mindframe dominated his first two starts with ease, and he finished ahead of three Grade 1 winners in the Belmont, so if he races more professionally in the Haskell he'll have every chance to turn the tables on Dornoch.

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Sea Streak

Start(s): 8
Wins: 2
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: Holly Crest Farm
Breeder: Holly Crest Farm
Trainer: Eddie Owens Jr.
Jockey: Jairo Rendon

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning the Long Branch S. at Monmouth Park.
Total Earnings: $204,110

Sire: Sea Wizard
Dam: High Noon Nellie
Color: Bay

Sea Streak was tons the best in the Long Branch S. at Monmouth Park, drawing off down the homestretch to dominate by 7 1/4 lengths. But he subsequently finished a distant fifth behind Tuscan Sky after dueling outside of four rivals in the Pegasus, so Sea Streak will need a rebound to reverse that outcome.