2024 HASKELL STAKES

[stark]

This Saturday.....

#1 – Dornoch – Luis Saez (5-2)
#2 – Jasper's Pride (Il Postino) – Jomar Torres (30-1)
#3 – Tuscan Sky – Javier Castellano (9-2)
#4 – Timberlake (Into Mischief) – Flavien Prat (8-1)
#5 – Fierceness – John Velázquez (5-2)
#6 – Just Step On It (Accelerate) – Florent Geroux (30-1)
#7 – Mindframe – Irad Ortiz Jr (9-5)
#8 – Sea Streak (Sea Wizard) – Jairo Rendon (20-1)

I'm guessing 3YO honors are still up for grabs.

[Missbeholder]

Pletcher has made it clear that the only way Fierceness actually runs in this race is if something happens with Mindframe that prevents him from going, like spiking a fever or something like that. If Mindframe stays in, Fierceness goes in the Jim Dandy.

Also, word has it that Gargan is pretty unhappy with Dornoch's #1 draw. So much so that the Jim Dandy might also on the table for him as well. I like Danny Gargan a lot, but if he follows through on this move, I think it's a bit of an overreaction. I don't have a problem with him not liking the draw. All trainers get miffed because of the luck of the draw. But it is what it is, and it's certainly nobody's fault. How is it sensible to withdraw a possible contender for the 3yo championship from an important GI race because of a "bad PP draw" to run in a less important GII race, where you face basically the same odds that you'll get a post position you're unhappy with?

It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but then I don't have much experience training racehorses!

[MySaladDays]

Forte won the Jim Dandy and was 1st or 2nd choice for the Breeders Cup Classic but ran in the Travers instead.
Vino Rosso was 3rd in the Jim Dandy and won the BCC.

Epicenter, Essential Quality, Alpha, Sreet Sense, and Stay Thirsty won the Jim Dandy then won the Travers.

Maybe Gargan sees there are other G1 races ahead that he could go in?

I guess I am one who doesn't think the Haskell is "all that" more than some other races.

[Izvestia]

Crappy 1 hole, but I hope Dornoch wins!

[Mylute]

I'm not sure why so many people are so insistent that Dornoch is incapable of beating this field, one hole or not.

I'm honestly rooting for Sea Streak.

[Squeaky]

I'm not sure why so many people are so insistent that Dornoch is incapable of beating this field, one hole or not.

I'm honestly rooting for Sea Streak.

Same! I really like him.

[Missbeholder]

Forte won the Jim Dandy and was 1st or 2nd choice for the Breeders Cup Classic but ran in the Travers instead.
Vino Rosso was 3rd in the Jim Dandy and won the BCC.

Epicenter, Essential Quality, Alpha, Sreet Sense, and Stay Thirsty won the Jim Dandy then won the Travers.

Maybe Gargan sees there are other G1 races ahead that he could go in?

I guess I am one who doesn't think the Haskell is "all that" more than some other races.

I'm talking about the grading of those races, not which is the better race for prepping in for bigger targets down the line. Dornoch is already in a battle for the 3yo championship, and Eclipse Award voters put an awful lot of emphasis on the grading of races the horse in question has won (or lost). A GI carries more weight than a GII. It just does.

By the way, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Jim Dandy is statistically a more successful prep for the Travers than the Haskell, regardless of the grading difference. Just the fact that it's run over the same surface would be enough to make that true.

[Izvestia]

I'm not sure why so many people are so insistent that Dornoch is incapable of beating this field, one hole or not.

He’ll be fine. He can break fast.

[MySaladDays]

By the way, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Jim Dandy is statistically a more successful prep for the Travers than the Haskell, regardless of the grading difference. Just the fact that it's run over the same surface would be enough to make that true.

good point

I don't know who will end up staying in this race, but it's Timberlake or Dornoch for me. Only ones I really like.
Have always liked Timberlake's pedigree esp. on the dam side (actuallly love it) so willing to give him a shot to win this thing.

[Missbeholder]

By the way, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Jim Dandy is statistically a more successful prep for the Travers than the Haskell, regardless of the grading difference. Just the fact that it's run over the same surface would be enough to make that true.

good point

I don't know who will end up staying in this race, but it's Timberlake or Dornoch for me. Only ones I really like.
Have always liked Timberlake's pedigree esp. on the dam side (actuallly love it) so willing to give him a shot to win this thing.

I just thought of another reason why scratching Dornoch out of the Haskell to run in the Jim Dandy doesn't make very much sense. I forgot about it so didn't mention it in my earlier post.

The GI Haskell is a Win and You're In for the BC Classic and the GII Jim Dandy is not. If Dornoch is good enough to win the Haskell from the #1 hole, he gets an automatic fees-paid entry in the big one at Del Mar in November. That's certainly worth considering, don't you think?

[Curtis]

I think if you like your horse going 9f, you run in the Haskell and later the PA Derby. If you think they want 10f, you concentrate on the Travers and if all is well, the BCC. Last year’s Haskell winner and third, I believe, ended up forming the exacta in the Pacific Classic. If you want 10f ish, the Pacific Classic is a decent alternative. I don’t think too many horses go from the Haskell to the Travers. There are other options.

[CoronadosQuest]

I'm not sure why so many people are so insistent that Dornoch is incapable of beating this field, one hole or not.

I'm honestly rooting for Sea Streak.

Agreed, its so weird how people have so little faith in Dornoch. He has had two bad races and 98% of the field has a bad race in the Derby so does that even really count?

[Cigarillo]

I'm not sure why so many people are so insistent that Dornoch is incapable of beating this field, one hole or not.

I'm honestly rooting for Sea Streak.

I think people are making two assumptions about him. That Saratoga was very front friendly for the Belmont. And if Mindframe didn't react to Irads whip and veered outside, he would have won.

I'm not saying I believe that to be the case. He ran a great race and deserved that win but I can see how they'd view it.

[Missbeholder]

I'm not sure why so many people are so insistent that Dornoch is incapable of beating this field, one hole or not.

I'm honestly rooting for Sea Streak.

Agreed, its so weird how people have so little faith in Dornoch. He has had two bad races and 98% of the field has a bad race in the Derby so does that even really count?

Based on what I've been hearing and reading from various public handicappers, analysts, and pundits, this is Mindframe's race to lose. Most of them just don't see anybody else but him winning. The 9/5 ML on him is a pipedream, especially with Fierceness very likely coming out.

Seems that all anybody can remember seeing is Mindframe nearly running down Dornoch after ducking out badly because of the whip. The general thought is, no ducking out and Mindframe easily blows by Dornoch nearing the wire in that Belmont. The difference with the Haskell is that it's a furlong shorter, which may strangely enough benefit both horses for different reasons.

[Tessablue]

Mindframe was giving up an absurd amount of experience to Dornoch in the Belmont. He'd run twice, no further than a mile and never in stakes company, and he nearly won a G1 going 10f while racing wider than the winner. Dornoch could win, but Mindframe has given plenty of reason to believe that he could be any kind, and he gets a better draw here as well. I think it's his race to lose.

[CoronadosQuest]

While I do think Mindframe has more natural talent, Dornoch has a shit ton of heart. And has proven that he can fight back if needed aka Remsen when he almost went over the rail, got passed and came back to win again. I just think its odd that so many people act like Dornoch hasn't been 1st or 2nd in 6 of his 8 starts (and won half of those).

[HB1994]

Fierceness has been scratched (finally).

[Cigarillo]

Dornoch 1st, Mindframe 2nd again.

Dornoch has that dog in him...

[CoronadosQuest]

Dornoch is such a star, I love him. When he has the lead, he hates to lose it.

[Cigarillo]

Dornoch is such a star, I love him. When he has the lead, he hates to lose it.

I love his drive. He's an awesome horse to watch.

On another note, the 3 year old crop feels extra talented this year. Looking forward to the rest of the year.