The $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) is Saturday, July 23 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 23 card.
Get up to a $200 Risk Free Bet!
Sign up with TVG by clicking on the promo below and you will get up to a $200 Risk Free wager.
Haskell Stakes odds
Morning line odds for the 2022 Haskell Stakes have been posted. Here are the post positions and odds for this year’s race.
| Post | Horse | Odds | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cyberknife | 6-1 | Brad Cox | Florent Geroux |
| 2 | Taiba | 7-5 | Bob Baffert | Mike Smith |
| 3 | One Time Willard | 30-1 | John Stephens | Paco Lopez |
| 4 | Howling Time | 10-1 | Dale Romans | Joe Talamo |
| 5 | King of Hollywood | 30-1 | Gregory Sacco | Nik Juarez |
| 6 | White Abarrio | 5-1 | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Joel Rosario |
| 7 | Jack Christopher | 3-2 | Chad Brown | Jose Ortiz |
| 8 | Benevengo | 20-1 | Jesus Cruz | Angel Rodriguez |
The field isn’t big, but it’s loaded.
Three major stakes winners _ Santa Anita Derby champion Taiba, Florida Derby victor White Abarrio and Arkansas Derby winning Cyberknife _ join undefeated Jack Christopher to headline the $1 million Haskell Stakes Saturday from Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.
Howling Time, Benevengo, One Time Willard and King of Hollywood round out eight-horse field for the Haskell, slated for a 5:45 p.m. post time.
Nationwide bettors can access the action, along with a full afternoon of high-level events around the country, via TVG.
Here’s a look at the field with post positions, jockey, trainer and morning-line odds after Wednesday’s draw.
Based on pari-mutuel regulations, odds don’t become official until post time.
But for people who attend the Haskell at Monmouth Park, fixed odds were established at midweek and bettors can lock in a price in advance.
1. Cyberknife (6-1)
Who is he? The Arkansas Derby winner or the horse who flattened out in the Kentucky Derby, running 18th? He suggested the former in winning a gritty stretch duel with Howling Time in the Matt Winn. He never was ahead of Howling Time except for a fraction of a second. Somewhere in that fraction of a second came the wire. Likes to stalk and run late. Can’t be too far off the early pace.
2. Taiba (7-5)
This distance could me more to the liking of the Santa Anita Derby winner. Trying to win the Kentucky Derby in just his third outing, he ran well for a mile, but not the final quarter.
This is only his fourth race and this one scales back it to 1 1-8 miles. Much to like and he figures to be right in it. Trainee of Bob Baffert, who seeks a record-setting 10th Haskell.
Taiba hit Beyer speed figures over 100 in his first two outings. If one accounts for the uncertainty of the 20-horse Derby, he could be ready to run a big one here.
Stalker, would be helped if someone presses Jack Christopher. Hasn’t run since the Derby, an 11-week layoff.
3. One Time Willard (30-1)
Has never been better than third in three starts and never gone beyond seven furlongs. Couldn’t win in maiden company. Now goes 1 1-8 miles against the nation’s top horses. Should he pull this off, the horse racing industry would collectively say “we know nothing.”
The only thing we do know is he is switching from primarily turf to dirt, hoping to find something
4. Howling Time (10-1)
Battled Cyberknife to the wire in an exhilarating stretch duel in the Matt Winn. On the one hand, the two of them could be a notch below this field. On the other, both are game, they would be right there if the favorites falter.
Howling Time broke to the lead in the Matt Winn, but probably won’t do that here if he matches that half-mile time of 47.81. He had comfortable fractions to try riding to the wire. That’s not likely to be the case here.
He’s as good as Cyberknife, although not in the best pace situation. Could be a nice value play underneath.
5. King Hollywood (30-1)
Finished seventh in the $150,000 Pegasus. Now he steps up for $1 million. Not in the right spot. Trying for some Monmouth Magic in what amounts to a home track for him.
6. White Abarrio (5-1)
The Florida Derby winner did not perform as well as expected in the Kentucky Derby. That’s true for a lot of horses in that field of 20.
Finds himself exactly at the 1 1-8 mile distance he mastered in winning the Florida Derby. Good stalker, usually makes a strong run late in the backstretch. Could be able to break alertly, stay near the front of the pack until the final turn and take his chances.
7. Jack Christopher (3-2)
Billed as the likely speed horse at speed-favoring Monmouth Park, but also is able to stalk. He did just that in the Pat Day Mile, sitting second behind Pappacap, seizing the lead around the far turn and making a power move to obtain separation. Then he was ridden out to win comfortably.
He did that again in the Woody Stephens. He wasn’t leading after a half-mile but then blew the doors off the field running the last three furlongs in just over 35 seconds. That may be the put away ability that separates him.
Chance to show he can graduate to 1 1-8 miles after winning at six furlongs, seven furlongs and one mile. He will face others who have gone well past this distance.
8. Benevengo (20-1)
Tries to take advantage of two things. One, he is stabled at Monmouth and has a recent victory over the track. It was not stakes company of course, but he did get to the early lead, survived pressure in what became a contentious pace and then survived.
Two, he thrived in the running style comfortable to Monmouth: on the lead. His fractions are comparable to Jack Christopher at this distance, if not this level. This is the year of the longshot in thoroughbred racing, as Rich Strike won the Kentucky Derby at 80-1. Nonetheless, this is a big ask.
Haskell betting overview
Jack Christopher can assume the early lead or stalk. May settle off early if Howling Time or some others are fast enough to take it early. Taiba will likely sit just off the lead, while White Abarrio and Cyberknife want to be in position too.
Small field, so bets have to be precise. The win bet and one good exacta stab is most likely where the money is.
- I see one ticket with Jack Christopher clearing the field and the best of White Abarrio, Taiba and Cyberknife _ all of whom have run 1 1-4 miles, completing the exacta with him. Maybe even Howling Time. Get the right combo and there can be some money.
- Another scenario involves Jack Christopher being compromised early, Taiba (or another stalker) prevailing and possible longshot action from Howling Time or Benevengo at the bottom of the trifecta.
- Wild card: middle move in the Woody Stephens suggests Jack Christopher still has upside. A bet with him on top is the bigger one.
- From a payout perspective, the last two Haskells indicate the impact of the heavy favorite. In 2020, favored NY Traffic was second. The exacta with Authentic and NY Traffic paid $15.80. The $1 trifecta paid $11.60 and the $1 superfecta returned only $37.20. Paltry exotics. You had to go to the win bet.
In 2021, the disqualification of 4-5 favorite Hot Rod Charlie lit up the board. Victorious Mandaloun, Following Sea and Antigravity thus combined for a $1 trifecta worth $266.50. The $1 superfecta would pay $1,989.60 or $198.60 for the 10-center. Handsome numbers with the favorite running completely out.
Nice if you think the favorite can run out of the money, totally. But one of these two chalks, if not both, stand an excellent chance to be in the Top 2. If so, the money would be in a heavy win bet or single exacta slam.
Haskell Stakes schedule and race details
- Date: Saturday, July 23, 2022
- Time: 5:45 p.m. ET
- TV: NBC 5-6 p.m. ET
- Tablet, Online, Mobile: NBC Sports App and streamed live on 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)
Fans can wager legally at racetracks, simulcast centers such as Off Track Betting (OTB) Centers, and on advanced deposit wagering platforms such as Twinspires, Bet America and TVG, where bettors in 31 states can legally bet on horse races from their mobile devices and web browsers. You can also wager on horse racing legally in the state of Nevada at the hundreds of casinos with race and sportsbooks.
Haskell Invitational history
Mandaloun won last year’s Haskell Invitational with closing odds of 2-1. Authentic won the 2020 Haskell with closing odds of 4/5.
The Haskell Invitational (Stakes) has seen the race favorite win almost exactly 50% of its races (27-of-53) including in the last three years. 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 2022 Haskell Invitational?
The Haskell Invitational will run on Saturday, July 23, 2022.
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 23, 2022.
How much are Haskell Invitational tickets?
General admission for the Grandstand is $8, 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.