Haskell Looms a Grade 1 Rematch of the Louisiana Derby

The results of Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) preps are most often pushed into the background once summer arrives and the Triple Crown becomes a thing of the past.

Yet trainer Doug O'Neill would not mind in the least if what happened in the March 20 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) repeats itself July 17 in the setting of the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park.

Back in March at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby brought together the trio of Mandaloun , Hot Rod Charlie , and Midnight Bourbon  for one of the year's most important Triple Crown preps, and it was O'Neill's speedy Hot Rod Charlie who prevailed by two lengths with Midnight Bourbon second and Mandaloun, the 6-5 favorite, a disappointing sixth.

Fast forward four months and that trio will meet again Saturday in the Haskell where they will account for the two favorites and three of the top four choices in the morning line.

"I wouldn't mind that all," O'Neill asked about a replay of the Louisiana Derby at the Jersey Shore.

While there are the proverbial new shooters among the field of seven, topped by Following Sea  who will be making his stakes debut, the Haskell reflects the quality of the aforementioned trio who have maintained their form through the Triple Crown.

All three ran in the Kentucky Derby where Juddmonte Farms' homebred Mandaloun (post 3 Saturday) was second by a half-length to Medina Spirit . Hot Rod Charlie (post 4) was third, a half-length behind Mandaloun. Midnight Bourbon (post 6) was a troubled sixth.

After that Mandaloun and Hot Rod Charlie skipped the Preakness Stakes (G1), where Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon was second for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon sat out the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) where Hot Rod Charlie turned in a huge effort in setting grueling early fractions of :22.78 and :46.49 and hanging on to finish a game second behind Essential Quality , who was fourth in the Kentucky Derby as the favorite.

Mandaloun returned to the races June 13 at Monmouth and won the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes, explaining why the linemaker put Hot Rod Charlie at 6-5, Mandaloun 2-1, and Midnight Bourbon 9-2 for the Haskell.

"It shows they are quality horses when they can run at the top class level and maintain that form," O'Neill said. "Horses like 'Charlie' and the others don't come around too often. We're lucky."

As courageously as Hot Rod Charlie ran for the ownership group of Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss in the Belmont Stakes, O'Neill believes the California-based son of Oxbow   out of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Miss has recovered quite well from the 1 1/2-mile journey around Belmont Park and is in great form for Saturday's 1 1/8-mile test at a track that can be kind to horses with his type of early speed.

"He's doing really well. He came out of the Belmont great and there's good spacing to the Haskell," O'Neill said about a $1.58 million earner bred by Edward Cox who was bought by his brother, Dennis O'Neill, for $110,000 from the Small Batch Sales consignment at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. "It's a credit to the patience of the owners and the foundation that 'Charlie' has that he came out of it as well as he did. He was fit and ready. We're pumped and real optimistic and looking forward to Saturday."

Aside from a million dollar purse, the Haskell offers the added incentive of a free spot in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) as a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge Series stakes (a savings of more than $100,000). There's also a $1 million bonus offered by Monmouth Park and BetMakers Technology Group for a horse who can sweep the Haskell, Aug. 28 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course (G1), and the Nov. 6 Classic at Del Mar.

A year ago, eventual Horse of the Year Authentic   won the Haskell, delayed Kentucky Derby, and Classic to rake in both the bonus and the free spot at the Breeders' Cup.

"It's a grade 1 for 3-year-oldds and there's no walkovers when you have a million dollars and those perks on the line," said Brad Cox, who trains Mandaloun. "It's going to be a very competitive race."

Cox categorized Mandaloun's performance in the Louisiana Derby—his lone unplaced effort in seven career starts—as a head-scratcher and his confidence was vindicated by a sparkling, bounce-back effort in the Kentucky Derby. With a winning effort over the track, Cox is hopeful of another big performance Saturday.

"He's doing well. Had a work over the track (July 10) and came out of it really well," Cox said about the homebred son of Into Mischief  , the sire of last year's Haskell winner. "His energy level is really good and he's moving well."

The presence of Hot Rod Charlie, Midnight Bourbon, and Following Sea should ensure a rapid pace that could benefit Mandaloun and his stalking running style in a race that could have an important say in deciding the 3-year-old championship.

"I think it sets up nicely for us. What he did in the prep race is what he will probably do here, coming a little bit off it," Cox said about the Pegasus where Mandaloun was shut off at the start and was last of five for the first half mile about four lengths off the lead. "There should be more pace in the Haskell than in the Pegasus."

Midnight Bourbon, a son of Tiznow  bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings and bought for $525,000 from the Warrendale Sales consignment at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, has not raced since the May 15 Preakness.

"He's a big, strong horse and has put in some excellent works," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "We've been very impressed with the way he's trained since the Preakness. I feel he has physically developed (since the Preakness) and will be a better horse the rest of the year."

Spendthrift Farm's Following Sea (post 1, 3-1) will make his stakes debut after decisive maiden and allowance wins by a combined 12 1/4 lengths in his last two starts. In between his maiden win at Oaklawn Park and June 3 allowance victory at Belmont Park, the homebred Runhappy   colt was shifted from trainer Bob Baffert's barn to Todd Pletcher's stable in the aftermath of the Baffert-trained Medina Spirit failing a post-race drug test for the opening leg of the Triple Crown that could ultimately make Mandaloun the Kentucky Derby winner.

The Haskell will also be Following Sea's first start at two turns. In his three career starts, he has yet to race beyond 6 1/2 furlongs.

Mandaloun and longshots Antigravity  (post 2, 30-1), Basso  (post 7, 30-1), and Pickin' Time  (post 5, 20-1) have raced over the track this year at Monmouth creating the possibility for a two-pronged edge. Aside from a familiarity with the racing surface, it gives their jockeys experience with riding that horse under Monmouth's controversial state-imposed rule that forbids the use of a riding crop except in dangerous situations. While the three longshots will have different riders than in their previous Monmouth starts, regular rider Florent Geroux flew in to handle Mandaloun in the Pegasus despite an outcry by fellow riders and The Jockeys' Guild about the safety of riding there due to the new regulation.

"There were no negatives with running in the Pegasus," Cox said. "You don't know how a horse will respond to a vigorous hand ride and (Geroux) gained that experience last time."

O'Neill said win, lose, or draw, he will not blame jockey Flavien Prat's inability to use his crop to encourage Hot Rod Charlie for what happens in the Haskell.

"Everybody is playing by the same rules. You know that going into it," O'Neill said. "He responds to Flavien's hands and body motion and riding ability so we won't blame the rule."

Post time will be approximately 5:47 p.m. for the Haskell, which can be viewed on NBC and TVG.

Entries: TVG.com Haskell S. (G1)

Monmouth Park, Saturday, July 17, 2021, Race 12

• Grade I
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $1,000,000
• 3 yo
• 5:47 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Following Sea (KY)	Joel Rosario	119	Todd A. Pletcher	3/1
2	Antigravity (KY)	David Cohen	119	Jerry Hollendorfer	30/1
3	Mandaloun (KY)	Florent Geroux	119	Brad H. Cox	2/1
4	Hot Rod Charlie (KY)	Flavien Prat	119	Doug F. O'Neill	6/5
5	Pickin' Time (NJ)	Nik Juarez	119	Kelly J. Breen	20/1
6	Midnight Bourbon (KY)	Paco Lopez	119	Steven M. Asmussen	9/2
7	Basso (KY)	Isaac Castillo	119	Gregory D. Sacco	30/1