Monmouth Park’s Haskell may be in Bob Baffert’s return plans after suspension

Stephen Edelson, Asbury Park Press
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It’s the million-dollar question at Monmouth Park.

Because while several top 3-year-olds are pointing towards the TVG.com Haskell Stakes, the unknown is whether nine-time Haskell winning trainer Bob Baffert will have a horse in the starting gate on July 23.

Baffert is currently serving a 90-day suspension levied by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission after Medina Spirit was disqualified for failing a post-race drug test after winning the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

But that suspension ends Saturday, and Baffert has an open invitation at Monmouth Park.

He was suspended for one year by the New York Racing Association on Thursday, through Jan. 23, 2023, and is suspended until mid-2023 by Churchill Downs Inc.

Trainer Bob Baffert has an open invitation to run horses at Monmouth Park, including in the $1 million Haskell Stakes on July 23, when his 90-day suspension ends on July 2.
Trainer Bob Baffert has an open invitation to run horses at Monmouth Park, including in the $1 million Haskell Stakes on July 23, when his 90-day suspension ends on July 2.

“Bob Baffert has been a central piece of making the Haskell what it is today and has always supported Monmouth Park, and once his suspension ends he is welcome to come to Monmouth Park and participate in any of our races that he wishes to,” said Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development, which operates Monmouth Park.

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All of Baffert’s 15 Haskell starters have hit the board, earning $7.3 million in those races.

In response to a text message about the Haskell Sunday, Baffert said:  "I get back to training Sunday. Know more by the afternoon or Monday. Haven't seen horses for 90 days."

The Haskell is the first Grade 1 race for 3-year-olds after Baffert’s suspension ends, and his options are limited. The meet at Del Mar, where Baffert will be based, begins on July 22. The Haskell Day card features four graded stakes on the undercard, including the Grade 1 United Nations.

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In addition to being a win-and-you’re-in race for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, any horse that wins the Haskell, the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic earns the $1 million BetMakers Bonanza Bonus.

Baffert's possible starters

So who might Baffert be shipping to the Jersey Shore for the Haskell?

At the top of the list could be Taiba, a $1.6 million purchase as a 2-year-old who ran 12th in the Kentucky Derby last time out. The lightly-raced winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby is currently in the barn of trainer Tim Yakteen, a former Baffert assistant, and in training at Santa Anita.

Taiba was credited with a 103 Beyer Speed Figure in his first career race on March 5, and a 101 Beyer in the Santa Anita Derby. It could set up a showdown with Jack Christopher, the Chad Brown-trained colt being pointed to the Haskell after earning a 107 Beyer in winning the Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

Messier, also in Yakteen’s barn, only has two workouts since finishing 15th in the Kentucky Derby, and it’s unlikely the Santa Anita Derby runner-up would be ready for the Haskell.

Another possibility is Hopper, currently in trainer Sean McCarthy’s barn at Santa Anita. Hopper comes off an impressive win in the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita on June 11.

Other probable Haskell starters include Cyberknife, with the winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox and owner Al Gold, a long-time Ocean Township resident. Home Brew, also trained by Cox, was an impressive winner in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park on May 18, although it’s unclear if Cox would run both.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has told Monmouth Park officials he will not be participating, with Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal being pointed towards the Travers Stakes, possibly using the Jim Dandy as a prep race.

Triple Crown credentials

It unclear if any of the winners of this year’s Triple Crown races will run in the Haskell, with nominations closing on Friday.

Brown has not officially ruled Preakness winner Early Voting out. Rich Strike, whose come-from-behind Kentucky Derby win at 80-1 was the feel-good story of the season, is being pointed towards the $1.5 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27, and could possibly use the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga on July 30 as a prep.

Exaggerator, who won the 2016 Preakness and Haskell on sloppy tracks, is technically the last entrant to be a Triple Crown race winner on Haskell Day.

Mandaloun, trained by Cox, was elevated to the top spot in last year’s Haskell after Hot Rod Charlie was disqualified for interference. Earlier this year, Mandaloun became the winner of 2021 Kentucky Derby when Medina Spirit was officially disqualified.

With the COVID-19 pandemic scrambling the 2020 Triple Crown calendar, Baffert’s Authentic won the Haskell as a stepping-stone to victory in the Kentucky Derby, run in September. And in 2019, Haskell winner Maximum Security hit the wire first in the Derby, only to be disqualified for interference.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth Park NJ: Bob Baffert return could include Haskell