The 40th Haskell Invitational has attracted a slew of stakes winners, including Curlin, victorious in the Preakness.
There have been some classy horses coming off victories in Triple Crown events that captured this race. Three won the Preakness: Deputed Testimony, '83; Point Given, '01; and War Emblem in '02, the only Kentucky Derby champion to visit the winner's circle.
Six consecutive captured the Haskell from '94, when Holy Bull scored at the lowest payoff of $2.40, through '99, when Menifee triumphed. In all, 18 favorites didn't disappoint in 39 races.
There have been notable upsets, too. Right off the bat in the initial '68 running, favored Iron Ruler ran fourth while Balustrade won at 33-1. Our Native surprised odds-on Linda's Chief by seven lengths in '73 and returned $17.60.
In '76, Majestic Light, 5-1, established the stakes record of 1:47 for 1 1/8 miles that was equaled by '87 Belmont winner Bet Twice in a five-horse field that included runner-up Alysheba, victorious in the first two Triple Crown legs. Majestic Light sired '82 winner Wavering Monarch.
In '86, Wise Times surprised Belmont winner Danzig Connection at 11-1. Lost Mountain upset Hansel, the '91 Preakness and Belmont winner, and returned $13.60.
The longest shot to score was Skip Trial, who upset '85 Kentucky Derby champ Spend a Buck and Belmont victor Crème Fraiche, second and third, respectively. The sire of '96 Haskell winner Skip Away returned $73.
More than 40,000 fans jammed the New Jersey oval for Monmouth's signature race eight of the last nine years. In '03, Peace Rules went wire-to-wire as the largest crowd in Garden State history turned out - 53,638.
"This should turn out to be a great race," racing secretary Mike Dempsey predicted. "(It's) one of the best Haskell fields we've ever had."
Sunday's race, in addition to the likely favored Curlin, third at Churchill Downs who was nosed out in the Belmont by Rags to Riches, includes several stakes winners that ran in one or more Triple Crown events.
Hard Spun, second at Louisville, third at Pimlico and fourth at Belmont, hopes to regain the winning form he displayed earlier this year taking two stakes.
Any Given Saturday won the Dwyer Stakes on July 4 after running eighth in the Kentucky Derby.
Cable Boy, undefeated in three outings during the Monmouth meeting, scored by 3.75 lengths on June 24 in the Coronado's Quest, named for the '98 winner of the Haskell that was sired by '88 winner Forty Niner.
Cable Boy established the track record of 1:38 3/5 for a mile and 70 yards in only his second start.
Xchanger, who captured Delaware's Barbaro Stakes, was unbeaten last year at Monmouth in two starts, including a victory in the Sapling Stakes.
While Imawildandcrazyguy has only two allowance wins, the stretch runner finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby and sixth in the Belmont. If there's a healthy pace up front, the son of Wild Event could pull the upset.
Possible starters include First Defence, who won the Long Branch Breeders' Cup Stakes, Monmouth's prep for the Haskell.
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