Dullahan reaches Monmouth Park for Haskell Invitational
The line-up for Sunday’s Haskell Invitational has not been finalised yet, as a number of runners come and go on daily basis. But, Dale L. Romans’ chestnut colt, Dullahan, is one of the few definite runners in the $1 million, Group 1 event at Monmouth Park.
The 3-year-old has been anxiously waiting for this race since suffering a terrible loss in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes last month. He completely failed to tackle the opposition and as a result, finished seventh behind Union Rags.
In order to participate in the big battle, the colt reached Monmouth Park on Monday night. Dullahan’s camp decided to go for the Haskell Invitational to give the colt a chance to register his first Group 1 success on turf. Owned by Donegal Racing, the son
of Even the Score has already sealed two Grade One wins, both on Polytrack.
“He’s already won two grade I's, both on Polytrack, and we feel he needs a big win on dirt to promote his stud career. The Haskell looks like the logical spot. I’m throwing out the Belmont; that wasn’t his kind of track. Monmouth isn’t near as deep and cuppy
as Belmont. It’s more like Churchill and he handled that track well,” Romans said.
Last year’s Breeders' Futurity hero started off this season on a high note. In the Grade 3 Palm Beach, he was runner-up behind Howe Great at Gulfstream Park. After kicking off his 2012 campaign with an excellent effort, the dashing colt improved his game
to ensure a classy win in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland.
Dullahan lost his direction after a couple of fine acts, and ended up third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May. Bred in Kentucky by Bena Halecky, Judy Needham and Philip P. Needham, the colt was mounted by J. Castellano for the first time in the Belmont
Stakes, but failed to make an impact.
When asked about the main danger in the Haskell, Romans rated Paynter the one to beat, but claimed that his charge is in good shape to have a cracking performance. The trainer shared:
“I am a huge fan of Paynter. He’s the horse to beat and will be out there running. We’ll have to run him down."
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