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The first major stakes horse race of the summer takes place this Saturday afternoon with the running of the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. This is the biggest race on a card that features five major graded events offering $2.2 million in total prize money.
The Haskell is a premier event for some of the top Thoroughbred three-year old colts in the nation. This race is part of the Challenge Series for the 2021 Breeders’ Cup in early November at Del Mar Racetrack in Southern California. The winner of this year’s Haskell will have a clear path to competing in the Breeders’ Cup Classic as that competition’s premier event.
2021 Haskell Stakes Betting Preview
When: Saturday, July 17th 2021
The Haskell is a Grade 1 stakes race open to three-year old Thoroughbreds. It will be contested on the dirt track at Monmouth covering a total distance of 1 1/8 miles. The total prize money up for grabs in Saturday’s featured event is $1 million.
The early field for this year’s Haskell at Horse Racing Nation lists seven colts as probable. A few of these projected entries have already made a name for themselves during this spring’s Triple Crown racing series.
Expert Horse Racing Betting Tips
Hot Rod Charlie a Strong Contender to Win
My top choice for Saturday would be Hot Rod Charlie, who has been idle since finishing second in June’s Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. Trained by Doug O’Neill, this Kentucky-bred colt finished third in the Kentucky Derby in his other Triple Crown race. HRC would make a great win/place/show pick.
When you add in his earlier victory in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in late March, the son of Oxbow would have to be considered one of the most successful three-year old Thoroughbreds in this year’s class.
Since winning a one-mile Maiden Special Weight race at Santa Anita Park as a juvenile, Hot Rod Charlie has placed in the money in six-straight events.
Second on my list for Saturday’s main event is trainer Brian Cox’s Mandaloun. This three-year old colt’s main claim to fame this year is a stunning second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby at long odds.
He confirmed his strong pedigree as the son of Into Mischief by winning the ungraded Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park on June 13. He covered the 1 1/16 miles on dirt in 1:44.63 past Weyburn and Dr. Jack.
Using that race as a prep for the Haskell, he will get another chance to beat Hot Rod Charlie in a major stakes head-to-head matchup. This will be the third meeting between the two after Mandaloun slipped to sixth in the Louisiana Derby.
Horse Racing Exotics Betting Guide
Cash in Big With a Trifecta on Saturday
Rounding out a solid trifecta play for the Haskell is Midnight Bourbon. Trained by Steve Asmussen, he last ran in this year’s Preakness Stakes where the Kentucky-bred colt placed second behind Rombauer. Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit finished third in that race.
Sired by Tiznow, this colt’s biggest career victory was in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds in mid-January. He went on to place second behind Hot Rod Charlie in the Louisiana Derby to add even more intrigue to Saturday’s featured race. Midnight Bourbon ended up sixth in the final running order of the Kentucky Derby.
Another interesting contender listed as probable for the Haskell is trainer Todd Pletcher’s Following Sea, who offers some value at longer odds after winning at Belmont his last time out.
We review the top handicappers sites and best PPH providers.
