2015 Haskell Cheat Sheet (With Odds)

American Pharoah headlines Sunday's $1.75-million Haskell Invitational Stakes at Monmouth Park. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire unless otherwise noted)
The $1.75-million Haskell Invitational Stakes marks American Pharoah’s first start since capturing the Triple Crown with his impressive Belmont Stakes victory. Record crowds are expected during Monmouth Park’s three-day Pharoah Phan Phestival leading up to the race, and though American Pharoah will be a very heavy favorite, there is some graded stakes-winning competition looking to upset the champ.
The Haskell Invitational Stakes also is part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge Series, which guarantees the victor a starting berth in the $5-million Classic on Oct. 31.
Get the lowdown on each horse expected for the Haskell below, in post position order with morning-line odds.

1. Upstart (6-1 ML Odds)

Jockey: Joe Bravo
Trainer: Rick Violette
Owner: Ralph Evans and WinStar Farm
Career Record: 8 starts - 3 wins, 3 seconds, 1 thirds
Career Earnings:  $971,480
Earnings Per Start: $121,435
Pedigree: Flatter – Party Silks, by Touch Gold
Color: Dark bay
Running Style: Stalker
Notable Achievements and Interesting Facts: Upstart had never finished out of the money until an unexplainable 18th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. The New York-bred's connections regrouped and are ready to try American Pharoah again in the Haskell. Upstart won the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes in February and crossed the wire first in the Grade Grade 2 Fountain of Youth before being disqualified to second. He also finished second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.
2. Competitive Edge (8-1)

Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Nancy Favreau, Kathy Psoinos and Michael Tabor
Career Record:  5 starts - 4 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Career Earnings:  $427,280
Earnings Per Start: $85,456
Pedigree: Super Saver – Magdalena’s Chase, by Cape Town
Color: Bay
Running Style: Stalker/pacesetter
Notable Achievements and Interesting Facts: A son of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, Competitive Edge was undefeated until an inexplicably poor effort in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes in June. His recent workouts indicate he’s back in the top form that gave him wins in last summer’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes and the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile Stakes in May. Leading trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Haskell three times, trailing only Baffert for most wins by a trainer.
3. Nonna's Boy (30-1)

Photo by Equiphoto
Jockey: TBD
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Repole Stable
Career Record:  7 starts - 3 win, 1 seconds, 1 thirds
Career Earnings:  $146,440
Earnings Per Start: $20,920
Pedigree: Distorted Humor – Nonna Mia, by Empire Maker
Color: Bay
Running Style: Pacesetter
Notable Achievements and Interesting Facts: Nonna's Boy is owned and trained by Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher, respectively, the same connections that campaigned 2010 champion 2-year-old male and current sire Uncle Mo. Nonna's Boy enters the Haskell off a win in the Lamplighter Stakes over the Monmouth Park turf course but has been unsuccessful in dirt stakes to date.
4. American Pharoah (1-5)

Photo by Benoit Photo
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Zayat Stables
Career Record:  8 starts - 7 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
Career Earnings:  $4,530,300
Earnings Per Start: $566,288
Pedigree: Pioneerof the Nile - Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman
Color: Bay
Running Style: Pacesetter
Notable Achievements and Interesting Facts: American Pharoah’s reputation precedes him. Last year’s champion 2-year-old won the 2015 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years and arguably the most well-known horse on the planet. He rides a seven-race win streak into the Haskell and according to Bob Baffert, “keeps getting stronger.” His owner, Zayat Stables, also bred him and raced his sire, Pioneerof the Nile. Baffert and Zayat partnered to win the Haskell in 2012 with Paynter.
5. Mr. Jordan (15-1)

Photo by Equiphoto
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Trainer: Eddie Plesa Jr.
Owner: David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa
Career Record:  6 starts - 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds
Career Earnings:  $253,095
Earnings Per Start: $42,183
Pedigree: Kantharos – Miss Skeetd, by Cloud Hopping
Color: Gray
Running Style: Stalker/pacesetter
Notable Achievements and Interesting Facts: Mr. Jordan has never finished worse than second but hasn’t faced this level of competition before. He enters the race after winning his first graded stakes and a local prep for the Haskell, the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes in June. Mr. Jordan will be running over his home track as he lives at Monmouth Park and trains there every day.
6. Keen Ice (12-1)

Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
Trainer: Dale Romans
Owner: Donegal Racing
Career Record:  9 starts - 1 win, 0 seconds, 3 thirds
Career Earnings:  $310,395
Earnings Per Start: $34,488
Pedigree: Curlin – Medomak, by Awesome Again
Color: Chestnut
Running Style: Closer
Notable Achievements and Interesting Facts: Though he has only one win to his credit, Keen Ice was most recently seen finishing third to American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes, and his two other third-place efforts were also in graded stakes. Trainer Dale Romans and owner Donegal racing will be looking for their first win in the race.
7. Top Clearance (30-1)

Photo by Equiphoto
Jockey: Abel Castellano Jr.
Trainer: Wayne Catalano
Owner: Gary and Mary West
Career Record:  4 starts - 2 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds
Career Earnings:  $72,520
Earnings Per Start: $18,130
Pedigree: Majestic Warrior – Sweet Beat, by Tiznow
Color: Bay
Running Style: Closer
Notable Achievements and Interesting Facts: Top Clearance has won two races in a row but this is his first start again stakes competition. The Gary and Mary West homebred is based at Monmouth Park and has the advantage of training over the track daily.
8. Dontbetwithbruno (30-1)

Photo by Equiphoto
Jockey: TBD
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Repole Stable
Career Record: 8 starts - 2 wins, 3 second, 1 thirds
Career Earnings: $110,050
Earnings Per Start: $13,756
Pedigree: Tiz Wonderful – Stomping, by Dixieland Band
Color: Bay
Running Style: Stalker/closer
Notable Achievements and Interesting Facts: Like Nonna's Boy, Dontbetwithbruno is owned by Mike Repole and trained by Todd Pletcher. Also like Nonna's Boy, Dontbetwithbruno most recently ran in the Lamplighter Stakes on the Monmouth turf course, where he finished second behind his stablemate. The colt has also finished third in the Parx Derby and fourth in the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes this year.