2026 Haskell Stakes Preview

The Triple Crown races may be over, but there are still plenty of big races for 3YO horses over the Summer leading into the Breeders Cup and end-of-year racing awards.  Some 3YO stakes have already been run, like the June 20 Ohio Derby, the Independence Day Belmont Derby (contested on grass), and last weekend's Indiana Derby.  But there are still plenty to come, with the biggest of course being the Travers at Saratoga on Labor Day Weekend.  But right behind the Travers in terms of importance is the Grade 1 Haskell, to be run this Saturday at Monmouth Park.  A full and competitive field is expected at the Oceanport, NJ race track, and here is a preview of the expected starters. 

   

#1 Star Sweeper (30-1) - The horse who will have the longest odds in the Haskell will also have the shortest trip around the track.  This son of Rock Your World has been virtually unheard off throughout the 3YO season and he's one of two horses with local connections trying to win the biggest race of the year at his home track.  But a last-place finish in the Pegasus Stakes -- the local prep race for the Haskell -- does not inspire confidence.  And the #1 post position doesn't help his chances either.  Only the most hardcore local bettors will have any money on him. 

   

#2 Further Ado (2-1) - It's easy to forget that Further Ado was the favorite in the Kentucky Derby.  This Brad Cox-trained son of Gun Runner was a big disappointment in that race, finishing 11th.  Cox decided not to run him in either the Preakness or the Belmont but instead gave him time off.  He came back to win the Grade 3 Matt Winn on June 7 (also at Churchill Downs) and ran well enough in that one that Cox believes he's ready for tougher competition.  Of course the question with Further Ado will always be -- until he proves otherwise -- can he run a big race outside of Kentucky (specifically Keeneland)?  Today will go a long way toward answering that. 

   
#3 Baby Vino (15-1) - Here is the other horse with local connections.  This son of Breeders Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso is trained by Lindsay Schultz. Though not a household name yet like Todd Pletcher, Chad Brown, or Bob Baffert, Schultz cut her teeth under the great Shug McGaughey and appears ready to take the next step.  Baby Vino won the Pegasus Stakes by 10 3/4 lengths.  And although he's never faced Grade 1 competition, he's improving with every start and certainly has the look of a horse that -- like his trainer -- is ready for primetime. 

   

#4 The Puma (7-2) - We haven't seen this guy since he ran a brilliant second behind Commandment in the Florida Derby on March 28.  Scheduled to go in the Kentucky Derby, this son of Essential Quality was scratched right before the race due to a skin infection.  But he was a buzz horse going into the Derby and racing fans are eager to see his comeback from almost four months off.  Regular rider Javier Castellano should be back aboard for The Puma who runs for the same connections as Mage who won the Kentucky Derby and finished second in the Haskell in 2023.
 
#5 Iron Honor (3-1) - Chad Brown's late-developing colt ran his best race when he finished a solid second to Napoleon Solo in the Preakness.  Brown took the blinkers off for the second Jewel, and Iron Honor showed that he belongs with the best 3YOs out there right now and deserves to be a strong play in the Haskell.  If top jockey Flavien Prat can skip a day of riding multiple winners at Saratoga, where he's been about as hot as any rider can be, then he should be aboard Iron Honor once again.  A likely 3rd choice behind Napoleon Solo and Further Ado.
 

#6 Napoleon Solo (5-2) - This son of Liam's Map has already had a busy season, winning the Preakness Stakes in May, impressively, before being sold by owner Al Gold for an undisclosed amount.  He's staying with trainer Chad Summers and will race for his new ownership group for the first time in the Haskell as the expected favorite (they also say they will continue to race Napoleon Solo as a four-year-old).  Regular rider Paco Lopez was recently suspended 30 days by the New York Racing Commission, but can ride here and will be aboard Napoleon Solo as he attempts to pull off the Preakness-Haskell double.   

   

#7 Ocelli (6-1) - Everyone's favorite Maiden is going to try again to get his first victory as a thoroughbred race horse in a Grade 1 Stakes.  It's an unusual situation to say the least, but the thing about Ocelli is that even though he's never crossed the line first, he hasn't embarrassed himself in any of his recent efforts.  In just the past two-plus months, he's finished third in both the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 2 Wood Memorial, fourth in the Grade 1 Preakness, and most-recently second in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby.  D. Whitworth Beckman is an up-and-coming trainer with a bright future.  And Ocelli has earned over $800,000 despite being a maiden.  Maybe he finally breaks through?

Good luck, as always,
Al McMordie