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Hot Rod Charlie Arrives At Monmouth For Haskell

Belmont Stakes runner-up Hot Rod Charlie arrived at Monmouth Park at approximately 5:20 p.m. following a flight from California, with the TVG.com Haskell Stakes contender immediately settling into trainer Kelly Breen's barn.

The Louisiana Derby winner and third-place Kentucky Derby finisher, who is trained by Doug O'Neill, was accompanied by his famous pony, retired Hall of Famer Lava Man.

Next Saturday's $1 million Haskell Stakes is expected to feature all three runners-up from the Triple Crown – Hot Rod Charlie, Mandaloun and Midnight Charlie – as well as the Todd Pletcher-trained Following Sea. The field for the Grade 1 race is also expected to include the Breen-trained Pickin' Time and Basso.

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Jockey Hector Diaz, Jr. Out After Incident At Monmouth

Jockey Hector Diaz, Jr. could be sidelined up to a week after suffering a deep laceration to his foot when his mount in Saturday's seventh race at Monmouth Park, Office Etiquette, stepped on him, according to Dr. Angelo Chinnici, the track's medical director.

Diaz was taken by ambulance to Monmouth Medical Center “for observation and sutures,” Dr. Chinnici said.

“He will need time for the stitches to heal – maybe seven days,” Dr. Chinnici said.

Diaz is currently fifth in the Monmouth Park jockey standings with 14 wins. Monmouth Park is located in Oceanport, N.J.

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Cilla Shines In Blue Sparkler At Monmouth

Trainer Brett Brinkman's initial reaction when Saturday's Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. came off the grass? “I was happy,” he said.

His second reaction?

The realization that he still didn't have an answer about whether or not his talented 3-year-old filly Cilla will take the turf.

For now, Brinkman can live without finding out for sure if Cilla can turf after she impressed with a 2½-length victory in the $75,000 feature on the 11-race card.

Ridden by Roberto Albarado, Jr., Cilla sat behind dueling leaders Dr B and Running Memories and then took command in mid-stretch, covering the 5½ furlongs over a fast main track in 1:03.07.

Dr B held for second, four lengths ahead of a tiring Decade in a field reduced to five due to the surface switch.

“I was happy when it came off the turf but I still don't know if she likes it or not and I'd like to find out,” said Brinkman, who is Louisiana based but keeps a string at Delaware Park. “The way the Into Mischiefs perform on the grass I've got to leave that as an option until she tells me not to.”

Cilla's only turf try came in the one-mile Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park a year ago, when she failed to fire in a ninth-place finish.

Owned by P. Dale Ladner, Cilla is a daughter of California Chrome-Sittin At the Bar by Into Mischief. The Blue Sparkler marked her fourth career win in nine starts and second straight stakes victory.

“She's as good as she has ever been right now, training-wise, maturity-wise, and speed-wise,” said Brinkman. “She has finally gotten up to the speed I always thought she had. The race set up nicely for her. This filly has always liked a target. They gave us one today. But when she decides to go you need to have a spot for her because she is ready to rock.”

Let go at 5-1, the Louisiana-bred Cilla returned $12.20 to win.

“When it came off the turf I think everyone associated with this horse was happy because she's better on the dirt than the turf,” said Albarado. “This is my first time riding her so I looked at her form and I saw that I was sitting on something good. I rode her the way she is – I rode her like a good horse.

“I told Brett there was a lot of speed in the race and the hope was they would hook up with us sitting off of them. It happened just the way we thought.”

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Mandaloun, Basso Turn In Final Breezes For Haskell At Monmouth

Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun and Basso turned in their final works this morning ahead of next Saturday's $1 million Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., with Belmont Stakes runner-up Hot Rod Charlie due to arrive later today from California.

Mandaloun went five furlongs in 1:02 breezing while Basso was clocked in 1:02.2 breezing for the same distance over the Monmouth Park strip.

“An easy maintenance work,” said Blake Cox, the son of Brad Cox, Mandaloun's trainer. “He went the five-eighths in 1:02 and was out in about 1:13.3 and he galloped out very well.

“We asked him a little bit and he picked it up. A very solid work.”

Mandaloun, who arrived at Monmouth Park on Tuesday, has the advantage of a race over the track, having won the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes here on June 13.

Cox said Mandaloun will have a light schedule next week. His father is due in the day of the race, he said.

“We'll just gallop steady into the race,” said the younger Cox. “This was a good work seven days out. We stayed on schedule.”

Gregg Sacco, the trainer and part owner of Basso, was similarly pleased with his colt's work.

“Kind of what we wanted to go,” said the Monmouth Park-based Sacco, who will mark his Haskell debut. “I didn't want him to go too fast because he had a stiff work last week. He galloped out in 1:14 and change.

“We're all set to go. It was actually a picture-perfect work. Isaac Castillo (who will ride Basso in the race) was on him. He couldn't have been any happier with him.”

Sacco said Basso would have a week of maintenance work next week and planned to have the son of Cairo Prince school in the paddock and at the gate.

The Doug O'Neill-trained Hot Rod Charlie, the Louisiana Derby winner who was third in the Kentucky Derby, was on a flight that was due to arrive at 4:30 p.m. He is expected to van into Monmouth Park around 6 p.m.

Midnight Bourbon, the Preakness runner-up, Monmouth Park-based Pickin' Time, and Following Sea are the other probables for the 54th edition of the G1 Haskell Stakes. Todd Pletcher, who trains Following Sea, had Dr Jack listed as a possible starter as well, but Saturday said that the Pioneerof the Nile colt, who was third in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park in his last start, would not start in the Haskell.

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