Title frenzy at Monmouth as the three-year-old division gathers to train before the big three
An invitational only stakes race for older horses, 3-year-olds and beyond, at 1 1/8 miles will go underway on 31 July, 2011.
The Haskell Invitational Handicap, a race of high significance for three-year-olds, falls perfectly between the U.S Triple Crown Series and the Breeders’ Cup that offers a massive purse of $1,000,000.
Run at Monmouth Park, the winner of the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Handicap will receive a top of the line, most prestigious trophy to be awarded in U.S thoroughbred horse racing.
The Haskell Invitational Trophy, it is more about the prestige that comes with the trophy and on top of that a $1 million dollar purse.
There is a buzz around the three-year-old division that some notable names have picked up training for the Monmouth meet on 31 July, and among those is the high profile three-year-old Preakness Stakes winner, Shackleford.
Dale Romans colt’s return to the race track will be after the Belmont Stakes on 11 June, where he finished fifth. His official workout is also after a month’s layoff, as he breezed four furlongs which took him a fast 48.40 seconds on the morning of 10 June
at Churchill Downs.
Last year’s Preakness Stakes winner Lookin At Lucky went on to land the $1 million dollar event, en route to championship honors in the three-year-old division.
It’s that time of the year where stakes get higher because the races scheduled during this time the July-August period will determine the three-year-old champion.
The Haskell Invitational and the 30 July $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga are the most important ones before the big one$ 1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on 27 August 2011.
The July meets are the stepping stone to the all important Travers Stakes; all three races will decide the three-year-old champion.
Everything is wide open, someone with a little grit can jump in claim either the Haskell or the Travers or maybe both.
Uncle Mo, who got sidelined from the Triple Crown because of a rare liver disease, will be back in Saratoga for the Group 1 King’s Bishop Stakes.
His connections still believe that last year’s 2-year-old champion can make it to the title.
The Kentucky Derby winner and the Preakness Stakes runner-up, Animal Kingdom could be considered as the division leader, but due to a slab fracture he will miss the rest of the season.
Maybe that is why it’s up for grabs.
Ruler on Ice, the Belmont Stakes winner with stable mate Pants on Fire who won the Louisiana Derby and the Pegasus Stakes, will run in the Haskell Invitational for trainer Kelly Breen.
Monmouth Park will be filled with work outs by the cream of the top 3-year-old division horses, as they enter the mid season to determine the champion for 2011.
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