Haskell

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Monmouth Park Racetrack will delay the opening of its stabling area until June 1 with live racing scheduled to commence July 4th weekend. "We want to keep our horsemen and fans as informed as possible," said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park. "With Governor Murphy extending the health care emergency in New Jersey by an additional 30 days, it became impossible for us to move forward with our planned May 1 opening for stabling.  We'll continue to...

Monmouth Park will hold the $1-million GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational July 18 during its 75th race meet, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday, May 2. A total of 63 stakes (12 graded and 11 restricted to New Jersey-breds) worth $7.3 million will be held over the Jersey Shore oval's 56 days of live racing. The 2020 Haskell card will feature six stakes races, two of which have received $100,000 purse increases--the now $300,000 GIII Monmouth Cup and the $250,000 GIII Molly Pitcher S. The GIII Iselin S., part of...

The lone horse to defeat-err, let's make that cross the wire ahead of--recently crowned champion 3-year-old colt Maximum Security (New Year's Day) is nearing a return to the races. Red Oak Stable homebred King for a Day (Uncle Mo) posted a hard-fought victory over the disqualified GI Kentucky Derby winner after that one stumbled at the start in the TVG.com Pegasus S. at Monmouth June 16. The bay disappointed in his next start, however, and was placed on the sidelines following a well-beaten fifth-place finish as the 5-2 second-choice after...

Gary and Mary West's Maximum Security (New Year's Day), last-out winner of the TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth Park July 20, breezed a leisurely half-mile in :54 flat Wednesday morning as he works toward a yet-to-be determined next start which could come in either the GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga Aug. 24 or in the GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Sept. 21. "I just want to make sure he is 100%," trainer Jason Servis told the Monmouth press office. "He's still not there yet." Servis said a decision...

It was a bit of an unusual scene on the Monmouth Park backside just before 7:00 a.m. as a crowd began to form outside of trainer Kelly Breen's Barn 12. Onlookers leaned around each other and ducked under rails to try and get a glimpse of the great American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) being saddled for his morning gallop. At 7:20 a.m., with 10 minutes to go until the Triple Crown winner was expected to enter the track, the rail and trackside viewing stands were already lined with media and...

Zayat Stables's American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) drew post four in what will be his first start since his historic sweep of the Triple Crown in Sunday's GI Willliam Hill Haskell Invtiational S., which is a "Win and You're In" event for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Oct. 31. Monmouth Park's oddsmaker Brad Thomas has installed the champion as the 1-5 morning-line favorite in this field of eight. "He's holding his form and that's the whole key after all he's been through," said Hall of Famer Bob Baffert,...

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) took his first spin around the Oceanport oval Thursday morning after the first renovation break around 7:30 a.m. in preparation for Sunday's GI William Hill Haskell Invitational. The bay, who arrived in the Garden State Wednesday afternoon, jogged once around the track the opposite way under a tight hold from regular exercise rider George Alvarez. Although American Pharoah understandably attracted the most attention during his jog, two other contenders were on the track during the designated time for Haskell starters in GIII...

Just minutes before Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) arrived at Monmouth Park, the Oceanport, N.J. oval announced a $750,000 purse increase to Sunday's GI William Hill Haskell Invitational S., which was previously worth $1 million. "The Haskell has been called the fourth jewel of the Triple Crown," said Bob Kulina, president of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park Racetrack. "With the Derby purse at $2 million and the Preakness and Belmont going to $1.5 million, it's only fitting that we join in that mix for our...