King for a Day, Joevia Turn in Final Works for Haskell

Red Oak Stable's King for a Day and Michael and Jeff Fazio's Joevia put in their final serious works July 13 for the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) coming up July 20 at Monmouth Park.

Todd Pletcher-trained King for a Day, who posted a stunning upset of 1-20 Maximum Security in the June 16 TVG.com Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth, worked a half-mile on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course in :48.39. Red Oak Stable racing manager Rick Sacco had King for a Day timed for five-eighths in 1:01.

"He breezed in company with a horse called Just Right, who is getting ready for the Finger Lakes Derby," said Sacco. "He went the half in :48.33, five-eighths in 1:01.10, was out three-quarters in 1:14, and out in seven-eighths in 1:28.

"It was a maintenance work, but he was in the bridle strong and (jockey John Velazquez) never moved on him."

Sacco said Pletcher has not made a decision on when King for a Day will ship from his Saratoga base to Monmouth for the race.

Joevia, third in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) in his most recent start, worked in tandem with Bal Bay Drive, with both Greg Sacco trainees hitting the track at Monmouth shortly after 9 a.m. ET.

"He went in :58 2/5 and was out in 11 (seconds) and change," Sacco said. "He worked super. That was what we were looking for. The other horse is a talented horse who just broke his maiden and is going to run on Haskell Day.

"We know he's a nice colt. We wanted to go for it today."

Hector Diaz Jr. was in the saddle for Joevia's work, which was the fastest five-furlong move of 17 Saturday morning. Jose Lezcano has the mount for the Haskell.

Meanwhile, the likely field for the 52nd Haskell Invitational grew to eight with the late addition of Don Ameche III, Griffin Investments, and Randall Reed's Parx Racing-based Bethlehem Road, who is coming off a fourth-place finish in the June 22 Ohio Derby (G3).

Dee Curry trains Bethlehem Road, who won his first three starts, including the Parx Spring Derby.

"We were thinking about the West Virginia Derby (G3) or the Curlin at Saratoga," said Curry. "All of the races we were looking at were a mile and an eighth. I'm at Parx. I'm right next door to Monmouth Park. That might be a plus. I don't have to go that far. I can keep him home until race day. I think that will be a benefit."

Curry would be the fourth female trainer to have a Haskell starter, joining Nancy Alberts (second with Magic Weisner in 2002), Cynthia Reese (fourth with Devil's Honor in 1996), and Linda Rice (sixth with Arcadia Falls in 1989).

Bethlehem Road turned in a two-mile maintenance gallop Saturday morning, Curry said.

"I was disappointed in the Ohio Derby because he got bumped hard four times during that race," said Curry. "The fourth time he got bumped, the jockey (Luis Rodriguez Castro) said he just seemed to take a deep breath and say, 'That's it. I'm done.'

"He has never been bumped the way he was bumped that race. So we're going to give him a shot in the Haskell. We have nothing to lose."

Curry said owners "are excited about being invited to the Haskell and the opportunity it presents."

"I'm a small trainer," she said. "I don't get these kinds of opportunities with a horse that fits in this type of race very often. Sometimes you have to take a chance."

Castro will have the mount aboard Bethlehem Road, Curry said.

Michael Lund Petersen's Mucho Gusto, who represents trainer Bob Baffert's hope of extending his record number of Haskell victories to nine, turned in his final work July 12 at Santa Anita Park, going six furlongs in 1:12 1/5. A winner of five of seven starts, Mucho Gusto is expected to ship to Monmouth July 17.

Monmouth Park-based Maximum Security, disqualified from first in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), is expected to put in his final work for the Haskell July 15.