Meet the Field of 3-Year-Olds for 2023 Haskell Stakes

After a Triple Crown season that provided plenty of excitement and three different winners of the signature races, action in the 3-year-old division heats up again starting July 22 at the Jersey Shore when Monmouth Park hosts the $1 million, grade 1 Haskell Stakes.

The 1 1/8-mile Haskell drew a field highlighted by the presence of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage , who will make his first start since finishing third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) in mid-May. Mage will face a qualify field headlined by grade 1 winner Tapit Trice , who finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Belmont Stakes (G1); unbeaten Arabian Knight , who makes his first start since January; and several up-and-coming performers.

The Haskell will be held for the 56th time this year. It has been an important race in determining the Eclipse Award winner as champion 3-year-old male, especially in years where no dominant horse emerged on the Triple Crown trail.

Past winners include Forty Niner (1988), Holy Bull (1994), filly Serena's Song (1995), Skip Away (1996), Touch Gold (1997), Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002), Big Brown (2008), filly Rachel Alexandra (2009), Lookin At Lucky   (2010), Bayern  (2014), Triple Crown winner American Pharoah   (2015), Good Magic   (2016), and Authentic   (2020).

In addition to its divisional prestige, the Haskell is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge Series race for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The Haskell winner will receive a fees-paid berth to the $6 million Classic Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park. Three prior Haskell winners have trained on to win the Classic: Bayern in 2014, American Pharoah in 2015, and Authentic in 2020. All three of those runners were trained by Bob Baffert.

The Haskell Stakes will be shown live on NBC as part of NBC Sports' "Road to the Breeders' Cup" series, during a show airing from 5-6 p.m. ET. It also will be streamed on Peacock.

Notes on this year's field follow.

1) Geaux Rocket Ride  (9-2)

Jockey: Mike Smith

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Owner: Pin Oak Stud

Career record: 3 starts - 2 wins - 1 second - 0 thirds

Career earnings: $180,200

Earnings per start: $60,067

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 104

Pedigree: Candy Ride  —Beyond Grace, by Uncle Mo  

Color: Bay

Running style: Press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: This California shipper is one of several Haskell contenders who has had interruptions in training over the past several months and unfortunately had to miss the Triple Crown series. After dominating a six-furlong maiden race at Santa Anita Park back in January and running a good second to Practical Move  in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe Stakes (G2) at the same track in March, Geaux Rocket Ride was withdrawn from the Santa Anita Derby (G1) due to an elevated fever, and he did not make his next start until June 4. Sent off as the  1-2 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita, the son of Candy Ride   drew off to defeat four opponents by 1 3/4 lengths. Now, he'll make his first start away from his home track against a far tougher field, but it is important to keep in mind Richard Mandella's expertise in managing his horses. The Hall of Fame trainer rarely, if ever, ships a horse to a marquee race if he doesn't think he has a chance to win it, and based on speed figures Geaux Rocket Ride is right there with Mage, Arabian Knight, and Extra Anejo as a leading win candidate in the Haskell. "Big Money" Mike Smith will ride Geaux Rocket Ride for the first time in the Haskell. The Hall of Fame jockey won the race in 1994 aboard the great Holy Bull, in 1998 on Coronado's Quest, and in 2020 on Authentic. Mandella won the 2000 Haskell with Dixie Union.

2. Awesome Strong  (30-1)

Jockey: Jose Batista

Trainer: Jorge Delgado

Owner: CSLR Racing Partners

Career record: 5 starts - 4 wins - 0 seconds - 0 thirds

Career earnings: $459,200

Earnings per start: $91,840

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 97

Pedigree: Awesome Slew  —Pleasant Ring, by Pleasant Tap

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: After starting his career with four consecutive wins at Gulfstream Park in 2022—including three stakes races restricted to progeny of Florida-based stallions—Awesome Strong did not race for over seven months until he returned June 14 to make his 3-year-old debut in a six-furlong allowance-optional claiming race at Delaware Park. He never threatened and finished fifth of six as the 1.70-1 favorite. This son of Awesome Slew probably needed that race for fitness after such a long layoff, but even if he can improve in the Haskell, this race is an incredibly difficult assignment for a colt who has earned his greatest achievements in restricted stakes races. Since he's made four of his five starts in sprint races, Awesome Strong could put some early pressure on Arabian Knight if jockey Jose Batista is aggressive coming out of the gate. It would be a surprise to see him still in contention in the late stages.

3. Salute the Stars  (8-1)

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Trainer: Brad Cox

Owners: Gary and Mary West

Career record: 4 starts - 3 wins - 1 second - 0 thirds

Career earnings: $210,960

Earnings per start: $52,740

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 104

Pedigree: Candy Ride—Star Sighting, by Malibu Moon

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker/closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: This talented son of top sire Candy Ride continued to improve race-by-race June 17 at Monmouth, shipping in from Kentucky and rallying to win the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus Stakes by a neck over 1-2 favorite Kingsbarns . Salute the Stars boosted his best Equibase Speed Figure from 98 in his 3-year-old debut May 14 at Churchill Downs to 104 in the Pegasus, which places him in the same range as leading Haskell win contenders Mage, Arabian Knight, Extra Anejo, and Tapit Trice. Salute the Stars has yet to run a bad race in his young career despite getting off to poor starts in two of his four races, including the Pegasus. He'll need to at least match that 104 figure in Saturday's race in order to score the upset or at least fill out the exacta, and that's certainly not out of the question, although the projected lack of pace works against him. Trainer Brad Cox has won the last two editions of the Haskell with Cyberknife   last year and Mandaloun in 2021, who was elevated to first after Hot Rod Charlie was disqualified. Gary and Mary West owned 2019 Haskell winner Maximum Security  .

4. Mage  (3-1)

Jockey: Javier Castellano

Trainer: Gustavo Delgado

Owners: OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH

Career record: 5 starts - 2 wins - 1 second - 1 third

Career earnings: $2,288,700

Earnings per start: $457,740

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 104

Pedigree: Good Magic  —Puca, by Big Brown  

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker/closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Mage provided an international audience of millions watching the Kentucky Derby with an undeniable feel-good story May 6 when he rolled from near the back of the pack to win the 1 1/4-mile classic by a length, catapulting his easy-to-like connections to the sport's pinnacle. He could not back his breakthrough win up with a subsequent Preakness Stakes victory, but it was for no lack of trying as he closed again in the stretch but settled for third at Pimlico. There's no doubt that Mage is one of the most talented runners in his age group, but as a come-from-behind horse he's also dependent on a fast early pace to set up his rally. That may not materialize in Saturday's Haskell, as it appears on paper that Arabian Knight is the controlling early speed, which he could employ under jockey John Velazquez to dictate the pace throughout and keep the closers, including Mage, at bay. It will be interesting to see if Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano positions Mage closer than usual to the projected pacesetter through the first half-mile or so to give his mount the best chance at winning. At any rate, this son of standout young sire Good Magic should be fit and ready to continue his excellent 2023 campaign in the Haskell, and a big effort—if not a winning one—is expected. Co-owner Ramiro Restrepo told Daily Racing Form that he and his partners are using the Haskell as a prep race for a start in the 1 1/4-mile Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 26 at Saratoga, which is important to keep in mind for betting purposes Saturday.

5. Tapit Trice  (3-1)

Jockey: Luis Saez

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owners: Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable

Career record: 7 starts - 4 wins - 0 seconds - 2 thirds

Career earnings: $1,033,650

Earnings per start: $147,664

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 103

Pedigree: Tapit  —Danzatrice, by Dunkirk 

Color: Gray or roan

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Tapit Trice was the 4.53-1 second betting choice in the Kentucky Derby May 6 after winning four races in a row dating back to December 2022 and capturing both the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and the Blue Grass Stakes (G1). He endured a less-than-ideal trip in the Derby and had to swing eight-wide in the stretch en route to a nonthreatening seventh-place finish behind Mage, and then skipped the Preakness Stakes for a start in the June 10 Belmont Stakes, where his stamina-rich pedigree figured to suit him as he tackled 1 1/2 miles. Tapit Trice managed the marathon distance well enough, but Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo got the jump on him and the rest of the field with an aggressive move at the top of the stretch, and Tapit Trice had to settle for third as champion Forte rallied late to nab second. It's safe to say that some of the shine has faded on this colt's reputation, and the betting public might shift their attention and dollars Saturday to some of the less-heralded Haskell runners with more upside, which could make Tapit Trice a mild overlay. He'll need to regain his early 2023 form and also overcome a projected modest pace in order to secure his second grade 1 win (after the Blue Grass) and re-establish himself within the top echelon of 3-year-olds heading into late summer and fall. Luis Saez won the 2019 Haskell aboard Maximum Security. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has three Haskell wins: Bluegrass Cat (2006), Any Given Saturday (2007), and Verrazano (2013).

6. Howgreatisnate  (20-1)

Jockey: Paco Lopez

Trainer: Elizabeth Dobles

Owner: Imaginary Stables

Career record: 8 starts - 5 wins - 0 seconds - 1 third

Career earnings: $243,900

Earnings per start: $30,488

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 100

Pedigree: Speightster —Bee Dees Bid, by Tapit

Color: Bay

Running style: Press the pace/stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: This gelding enters the Haskell having made his two most recent starts on Monmouth's main track, taking the one-mile and 70-yard Long Branch Stakes by a head May 13 and then finishing a decent third behind Salute the Stars and Kingsbarns in the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus Stakes June 17. Overall, Howgreatisnate has put together a fine career through eight starts, winning all four races as a juvenile in 2022 including a sprint stakes race at Delaware Park, and coming back nicely from a 3-year-old debut in which he unseated his jockey to finish fourth in the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park and then run well at Monmouth. He's a longshot win candidate in the Haskell based on speed figures, his modest pedigree, and the company he's kept so far, but Howgreatisnate has a chance to fill out the trifecta or superfecta at a nice price if he repeats his Pegasus effort and a couple of the main contenders fail to fire.

7. Extra Anejo  (5-1)

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds

Career record: 3 starts - 2 wins - 1 second - 0 thirds

Career earnings: $157,185

Earnings per start: $52,395

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 100

Pedigree: Into Mischief  —Superioritycomplex, by Hard Spun  

Color: Bay

Running style: Press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Like Arabian Knight, Extra Anejo turned heads during last fall's Keeneland meet when he debuted in a maiden race held at about seven furlongs and romped by 9 1/2 lengths. Unfortunately, the $1.35 million purchase was sidelined with an ankle injury during the winter and early spring and missed the Kentucky Derby prep season. He returned May 6 at Churchill Downs and ran second in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance-optional claiming race, and improved off of that tune-up in his second start as a 3-year-old June 10 at Ellis Park, when he won a one-mile allowance-optional claiming event by a runaway 6 1/4 lengths. Extra Anejo has been training steadily at Churchill since his Ellis victory and is an intriguing contender in the Haskell as he has come nowhere close to reaching his potential due to the aforementioned setback. He could also secure an ideal pace-pressing trip behind Arabian Knight and may have a fitness edge over that foe who'll be making his first start in six months. Steve Asmussen won the 2009 Haskell with the filly Rachel Alexandra, who months later was named Horse of the Year. 

8. Arabian Knight  (5-2)

Jockey: John Velazquez

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables

Career record: 2 starts - 2 wins - 0 seconds - 0 thirds

Career earnings: $544,275

Earnings per start: $272,138

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 106

Pedigree: Uncle Mo—Borealis Night, by Astrology 

Color: Bay

Running style: Pacesetter

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Baffert has won the Haskell Stakes a record nine times, and his other five starters in this race since 2000 have finished second, including Taiba  last year. The California-based trainer will put that superlative record on the line with Arabian Knight, who has been regarded as one of the most purely talented members of his age group ever since he debuted last fall at Keeneland and won a seven-furlong maiden race by 7 1/4 lengths. The Uncle Mo colt then made his 3-year-old debut Jan. 28 in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park and controlled the pace early before spurting clear to a 5 1/2-length romp on a sloppy track. While Baffert was banned from entering horses in the 2023 Kentucky Derby, this colt never left his barn and owner Amr Zedan decided to be patient with Arabian Knight and give him some time off. His return in the Haskell brings an extra level of excitement, especially as Arabian Knight stands out as possibly the lone speed in a race held on a track that favors forwardly placed horses. John Velazquez has been aboard Arabian Knight for both of his wins. The Hall of Famer is an expert at getting front-runners to settle into a good rhythm and conserve energy, although he'll have to use some of that energy to urge Arabian Knight out of the starting gate quick from his outside post in order to angle in and save ground before reaching the first turn. If this colt is fit enough to regain his early 2023 form while making his first start in nearly six months, he's a threat to wire the Haskell field. Baffert's Haskell winners are Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002), Roman Ruler (2005), Lookin At Lucky (2010), Coil (2011), Paynter (2012), Bayern (2014), American Pharoah (2015), and Authentic (2020). Velazquez has won this race twice, aboard Bluegrass Cat in 2006 and Verrazano in 2013.