Dornoch, Mindframe Meet Again in Monmouth's Haskell

When Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Mindframe  finished second in the June 8 Belmont Stakes (G1), co-owner Mike Repole said he was happy that that his friend, Randy Hill, owned a share of the victorious Dornoch .

Five weeks later, with a rematch of the Belmont Stakes' top two finishers a distinct possibility, Repole does not want to make that sporting gesture a habit.

"I like Randy Hill, but I don't want to lose to him twice," said the always outspoken Repole. "I'd like to turn the tables on him."

Round Two could take place July 20 at Monmouth Park when the grade 1 status of the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1), New Jersey's centerpiece race, attracted both Dornoch and Mindframe along with reigning 2-year-old champion male Fierceness  among a field of eight 3-year-olds that was drawn July 17. 

The hitch is that Repole also is the breeder and sole owner of Fierceness (post 5, 5-2). Considering the common ownership and that both Todd Pletcher-trained colts have natural speed, it seems highly unlikely that both will run. One of them will probably remain at Saratoga Race Course for the July 27 $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) while the other ships to New Jersey for the 1 1/8-mile Haskell.

After last Saturday, when Repole's prized 2-year-old Mentee  developed a fever and was scratched the morning of the Sanford Stakes (G3) at the Spa, Repole said the announcement of who will be running the Haskell probably will not come until that horse boards the Jersey-bound van. Horses can arrive on the grounds for the Haskell as late as Saturday.

"We're in a dream position. Both horses would be the favorite as standalones in the Haskell," Repole said. "It's a great race that I haven't won but there's doing the right thing by the horse and being a good partner. It's harder when you have a partner in one of the horses. They are both training great and if they both run I hope they run first and third. I'd feel bad for the horse who finished second, knowing I split aces. At least with one finishing third I could say if I ran him he would have finished second and we made the right choice to run both."

Chances are that it will be Mindframe (post 7, 9-5 morning-line favorite) heading to the Jersey Shore for a reason that Danny Gargan, trainer of Dornoch (post 1, 5-2), knows all too well

"It's a grade 1 stakes," Gargan said.

There are numerous reasons to run in the Haskell, such as the million-dollar purse and the free spot in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) as a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event. What stands out beyond that is the grade 1 status and all of its implications, especially for a stallion prospect like Mindframe seeking an initial top-level win.

For Dornoch, owned by Hill, West Paces Racing, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Pine Racing Stables, and the Two Eight Racing of former Major League all-star Jayson Werth, a victory in the Haskell would put the classic and Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner clearly atop a chaotic 3-year-old male division.

"I want him to be the 3-year-old champion and you have to win grade 1s to do it. If he wins the Haskell, it puts him way in front. I want him to get what he deserves," Gargan said about the son of Good Magic  , who is a full brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage  . "If the Jim Dandy was a grade 1 we'd be in it. That's the bottom line. I believe it should be a grade 1."

Dornoch, bred by Grandview Equine out of the Big Brown   mare Puca , was sent off at 17-1 odds in the Belmont after finishing a troubled 10th in the Kentucky Derby. But in the final leg of the Triple Crown, he reverted to the form that made him a grade 2 winner and one of the top 2-year-olds a year ago.

"He's doing really, really good," Gargan said. "He's probably as good if not better than he was going into the Belmont."

The Belmont was just the third career start for Mindframe and he turned in a superb effort to finish a half-length behind Dornoch while racing wide and drifting out in the stretch.

A Maryland-bred son of Constitution  , Mindframe was attempting the herculean task of trying to win the mile-and-a-quarter Belmont in his initial stakes appearance.

"He's a May foal and he's coming back to race next year," Repole said about the son of the Street Sense   mare Walk of Stars  who was bred by R. Larry Johnson. "He can be Arrogate or Gun Runner next year so I wouldn't throw him into a difficult spot now. If he was 5-1, he wouldn't run. But he's the favorite in a grade 1 stakes."

Fierceness has not raced since finishing 15th as the 3-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby. The Run for the Roses continued a baffling trend of good-followed-by-bad races for the City of Light   colt, meaning his next start could produce the "good" Fierceness.

Pletcher, who entered three horses in the Haskell, said he's been pleased with the way Fierceness has trained since the May 4 classic.

"His breezes have been super. He seems to be back to himself," said Pletcher, who enters the weekend with 199 grade 1 stakes wins.

John Velazquez, who is listed to ride Fierceness, is also booked for mounts at Saratoga Saturday,

Pletcher will also send out Spendthrift Farm's Tuscan Sky  (post 3, 9-2), who won the June 15 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth, the stepping stone local prep for the Haskell. The 6 3/4-length victory became even more impressive when runner-up Domestic Product  came back and won the July 6 Dwyer Stakes (G3) by 7 1/2 lengths.

"Tuscan Sky turned in a good race over the track and we feel that is important," Pletcher said about the Vino Rosso colt bred by Sierra Farm. "We'll give him a chance to step up in a big spot."

A third grade 1 winner in the field is WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's Timberlake  (post 4, 8-1). Trained by Brad Cox, the Into Mischief   3-year-old won the Champagne Stakes (G1) at 2 and has not raced since finishing fourth in the March 30 Arkansas Derby (G1) as the 6-5 betting choice.

"He needed some time off after the Arkansas Derby," Cox said. "I think we're in a great spot with him. He has given us the confidence to try this."

The field also includes Holly Crest Farm's New Jersey-bred Sea Streak  (post 8, 20-1), a Sea Wizard   gelding who was fifth in the Pegasus, and two supplemental entrants trying graded stakes company for the first time: Jasper's Pride  (post 2, 30-1) and Just Step On It  (post 6, 30-1), sons of Il Postino  and Accelerate , respectively.

- Additional reporting by Sean Collins