The $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) is Saturday, July 22 at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. The name changed from the Haskell Invitational, which was established in 1968 as the Monmouth Invitational Handicap for older horses. The Haskell Invitational has been a stakes race for 3-year-olds since 2006 and is the premier race held at Monmouth Park – known as The Shore’s Greatest Stretch.
Nicknamed the “War on the Shore,” the Haskell is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, and the winner receives an automatic fees paid entry into the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at 1 ¼ miles.
The Grade 1 Haskell headlines the biggest day of racing at Monmouth Park with four Grade 3 races also on the July 22 card.
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Haskell Stakes odds
The Haskell, a premier $1 million midsummer showcase of the nation’s top thoroughbreds, unfolds Saturday at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. This 1 1–8-mile showcase has often provided a springboard for horses under consideration for the November Breeders’ Cup and Eclipse Awards at the end of the season.
The field for the 56th running of the Haskell was announced during Wednesday’s draw. Haskell Stakes morning line betting odds have been posted.
| Post | Horse | Morning Line Odds | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geaux Rocket Ride | 9-2 | Richard Mandella | Mike Smith |
| 2 | Awesome Strong | 30-1 | Jorge Delgado | Jose Batista |
| 3 | Salute the Stars | 8-1 | Brad Cox | Joel Rosario |
| 4 | Mage | 3-1 | Gustavo Delgado | Javier Castellano |
| 5 | Tapit Trice | 3-1 | Todd Pletcher | Luis Saez |
| 6 | Howgreatisnate | 20-1 | Elizabeth Dobles | Paco Lopez |
| 7 | Extra Anejo | 5-1 | Steve Asmussen | Tyler Gaffilione |
| 8 | Arabian Knightt | 5-2 | Bob Baffert | John Velazquez |
Haskell Stakes Horses 2023
Here is a look at the Haskell Stakes field with a list of horses set to run in the 2023 race at Monmouth Park. The race has a post of approximately 5:45 p.m.
1. Geaux Rocket Ride 9/2
Contender, especially if he can ship from California, where all three of his career races have unfolded. Ran a strong second to Practical Move in the San Felipe at Santa Anita and then was scratched from the Santa Anita Derby with an illness.
Returned to win impressively in the Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita. Comes into the race in a prominent form cycle, is lightly raced, and should have a lot to say about this one.
2. Awesome Strong 30/1
Disappointed in Delaware Park sprint after going 4-for-4 in career-opening Florida circuit. Optimists will believe the eight-month layoff, followed by a six-furlong race, was just a training method to get the horse ready for bigger competition.
Pessimists will believe he should have prevailed in an allowance-optional claiming race at a cheaper track after beating better horses in Florida. Handicappers will have to toss this around.
3. Salute the Stars 8/1
Exhilarating victory in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park in June. Ran down proverbial frontrunning Kingsbarns with a monstrous home-stretch rally. Overcame all kinds of traffic problems to prevail at the wire.
Beating the Louisiana Derby winner did wonders for the confidence level of the connections. Should obtain substantial betting respect off of that.
4. Mage 3/1
Racing fans can’t wait to see how the Kentucky Derby winner will perform in his next race. They simply weren’t sure whether that would be at the Haskell at Monmouth or the July 29 Jim Dandy and Aug. 26 Travers at Saratoga.
The decision is imminent. Mage’s trainers were disappointed he had a slow pace to track in the Preakness, which cost their closer a shot to run down frontrunning National Treasure in the homestretch.
Trainers may take a pace scenario into consideration on his entry. If he goes, two-month break since the Preakness may be an ideal rest period for a horse that has shown improvement all year long. The question is whether someone softens up front-running Arabian Knight for him.
5. Tapit Trice 3/1
Loves to make a big move late. Was able to do it ion winning the Blue Grass. Was not able to do it in the Kentucky Derby, where he nonetheless finished a good seventh.
Was moving well with Forte at the end of the 1 1–2-mile Belmont Stakes and became a barely-beaten third. The shorter distance could be a blessing, based on the Belmont, or a curse, based on previous races.
6. Howgreatisnate 20/1
Sharply won the Long Branch Stakes at the host track. He triumphed in a gritty stretch duel and then was pointed here.
Won four races last year, stumbled in the next two and recaptured solid form in the Long Branch. A win at the track is always a big plus. On the flip side, he was later bested handily by Salute the Stars in the Pegasus.
7. Extra Anejo 5/1
Connections are about to find out how good their horse is. Won impressively in a Keeneland debut by 9 1-2 lengths. Lost in his next outing at Churchill.
Made a recent allowance-level statement. He toyed with the field before winning for fun at Ellis Park. Fractions of six furlongs in 1:10.05 and seven furlongs in 1:22.33 suggest some pedigree. What happens when he meets a star-studded field of the nation’s top horses?
8. Arabian Knight 5/2
Bob Baffert is a fixture at the Haskell, owning a race-record nine triumphs. He shows up again with the early-season favorite to be Horse of the Year. But after prevailing in the slop at the Southwest Stakes in February, Arabian Knight was taken off the circuit and missed the Triple Crown races.
Trainers were not happy with his workout pattern, appearing to be concerned that he had flattened out. Comes back rested. Figures to obtain a ton of betting support with the Baffert connection and past results. Layoff will be a concern.
Haskell Stakes schedule and race details
- Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023
- Time: 5:45 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC 5-6 p.m. ET
- Tablet, Online, Mobile: NBC Sports App and streamed live on Peacock, NBCsports.com/live and TVG.com.
- Track & Location: Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey
- Distance: 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs)
- Surface: Dirt
- Horses: 3-Year-Old Thoroughbreds by Invitation only
- Track Record: Bet Twice (1987) and Majestic Light (1976) in 1:47.00
- Largest Margin of Victory: Verrazano (9 3/4 lengths in 2013)
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Haskell Invitational history
Cyberknife won last year’s Haskell Invitational with closing odds of 6-1.
The Haskell Invitational (Stakes) has seen the race favorite win almost exactly 50% of its races (27-of-54). Maximum Security (4/5) held off a bid by Mucho Gusto to win in 2019, and 2018 winner Good Magic (1/2) rolled to a three-length victory as the heavy favorite. The race has been decided by a nose three times including in 2017 when long shot Girvin (9/1) prevailed.
The first 3-year-old classic winner to also win the Haskell was Coastal in 1979. He won that year’s Belmont Stakes.
In 1987, Bet Twice – the Belmont Stakes winner – beat Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Alysheba in one of the most fantastic finishes in the race’s history. Bet Twice shares the stakes record time of 1:47 with Majestic Light, the 1976 winner.
Racing Hall of Famer Craig Perret rode three Haskell winners: Bet Twice (1987), Forty Niner (1988), and Lost Mountain (1991), the most by any jockey.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won the Haskell a record eight times starting in 2001 and most recently in 2015.
While many tried (including Alysheba, referenced above), the first Kentucky Derby winner to also win the Haskell was War Emblem in 2002. Big Brown became the second in 2008. In 2015 American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner to run in and win the Haskell.
In 1995, Serena’s Song became the first filly winner of the Haskell. Rachel Alexandra became the second in 2009.
Haskell winners have gone on to win 3-year-old divisional championship honors 11 times, including Maximum Security in 2019. Maximum Security crossed the finish line first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, but was disqualified for interference in the stretch.
Haskell Stakes bet types
In addition to the traditional “straight” wagers (Win, Place, Show), fans can also attempt to cash big in the various “exotic” pools. Exacta (first two), Trifecta (first three) and Superfecta (first four) wagering are all offered, and cashing a ticket in any of these pools can produce a bigger payday.
- Win: Bet on the horse you think you will win the Haskell Invitational.
- Place: Get paid the place price if your horse finishes first or second.
- Show: A show bet pays the least, but you win and get paid the show price if your horse finishes first, second or third.
- Exacta: Predict the first two horses in the correct order.
- Trifecta: Predict the first three horses in the correct order.
- Superfecta: Predict the first four horses in the correct order.
The Haskell Invitational Stakes betting odds are finally determined by the pari-mutuel system at the track which means your potential payout depends on how much money is in the pool overall, divided by how many bets are placed. The odds will fluctuate in the build-up to the race and never more so than in the final few moments before post time.
Haskell Invitational FAQs
When is the 2023 Haskell Invitational?
The Haskell Invitational will run on Saturday, July 22, 2023.
How many horses run in the Haskell?
The field is limited to a maximum of 14 horses.
What is the Haskell Invitational Purse?
The Haskell has maintained a purse of $1 million since 1997.
How much does the winner of the Haskell Invitational get?
The connections of the winner of the Haskell receives $600,000. Runner-up receives $200,000 and third place $100,000 with six places paid.
What kind of race is the Haskell Invitational?
The Haskell is a Grade 1 stakes race and has run under allowance weight conditions since 2006
When is post time for the Haskell Invitational?
Post time is approx. 5:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 22, 2023.
How much are Haskell Invitational tickets?
General admission for the Grandstand is $5, and the Clubhouse is $10. However, the 2020 race was contested with no fans in the stands due to coronavirus concerns and for the safety of all people and personnel at the track.
How long does the Haskell Invitational last?
Less than 2 minutes. In fact, the winning horse typically wins the race in less than one minute, fifty seconds.
Who was the fastest horse to win the Haskell Invitational?
Bet Twice (1987) and Majestic Light (1976) both won in 1:47.00.