Authentic Tabbed As 4-5 Morning Line Favorite For $1 Million Haskell Stakes

Authentic was installed as the 4-5 morning line favorite to extend Bob Baffert's record for victories in the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes following Wednesday's post position draw for Monmouth Park's showcase race.

A field of seven will contest the 53rd edition of the Haskell on Saturday, July 18. Authentic drew post position 2 for the mile and an eighth Grade 1 race.

Unbeaten in his first three career starts, Authentic was second to Honor A.P. in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in his last start on June 6.

Baffert has won the Haskell a record eight times, doing so in 2015 (American Pharoah), 2014 (Bayern), 2012 (Paynter), 2011 (Coil), 2010 (Lookin at Lucky), 2005 (Roman Ruler), 2002 (War Emblem) and 2001 (Point Given).

Dr Post, trained by Todd Pletcher, was made the 5-2 second choice by Monmouth Park oddsmaker Brad Thomas. In his most recent start, Dr Post finished second in the Belmont Stakes on July 20. The son of Quality Road-Mary Delaney by Hennessy drew post position 1.

In a first for the race, the Haskell will offer points for the Kentucky Derby, with 100 going to the winner, 40 to the runner-up, 20 for third and 10 for fourth. In addition, The Haskell has been designated as “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

BetMakers, in partnership with Monmouth Park, is also sponsoring a $1 million bonus for any horse that wins the Haskell, the Kentucky Derby (re-scheduled to Sept. 5) and the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 7.

First race post on Haskell Day, which includes the Grade 1 United Nations, is noon. NBC will televise the Haskell Day card from 5 to 6 p.m. as part of the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing.”

The field for the 53rd Haskell Stakes:

PP HORSE TRAINER JOCKEY M/L ODDS

1. Dr Post Todd Pletcher Joe Bravo 5-2

2. Authentic Bob Baffert Mike Smith 4-5

3. Jesus' Team Jose D'Angelo Nik Juarez 15-1

4. Ancient Warrior Jerry Hollendorfer Trevor McCarthy 20-1

5. Fame to Famous John P. McAllen Jose C. Ferrer 30-1

6. Lebda Claudio Gonzalez Alex Cintron 20-1

7. Ny Traffic Saffie Joseph, Jr. Paco Lopez 7-2

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Dr Post, Authentic Top Probables For ‘Win And You’re In’ Haskell Stakes

Belmont Stakes runner-up Dr. Post and Santa Anita Derby runner-up Authentic are among nine 3-year-olds listed as probable for the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 18, with two other sophomore runners possibly joining the field, director of racing and racing secretary John Heims and stakes coordinator Lynn T. Ott announced today.

If all nine go it will be the largest field for Monmouth Park's signature race since 2014, when there were also nine starters.

This year's 53rd edition of the Haskell offers the added inducements of points for the Kentucky Derby and a “Win and You're In” reward for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Monmouth Park is also putting up a $1 million bonus for any horse that sweeps the Haskell, the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic. The Haskell is one of two Grade 1 races remaining for 3-year-olds prior to the Kentucky Derby, which has been moved to Sept. 5 from its traditional spot the first Saturday in May because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Breeders' Cup Classic is scheduled for Nov. 7.

Ancient Warrior, Ete Indien, Fame to Famous, Jesus' Team, Lebda, Ny Traffic and Sonneman are the other probables for the nine-furlong Haskell Stakes.

The connections of Modernist, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, and Mystic Guide are also considering the Haskell Stakes.

If one or both of those decide to go it would mark the largest Haskell field since 11 started in the 1995 race.

Dr. Post, trained by Todd Pletcher, had won two of his first three career starts before finishing second to Tiz the Law in the Belmont Stakes on June 20.

Authentic, second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby to Honor A.P. on June 6, represents trainer Bob Baffert's attempt to win a record ninth Haskell. He has captured the race in 2015 (American Pharoah), 2014 (Bayern), 2012 (Paynter), 2011 (Coil), 2010 (Lookin at Lucky), 2005 (Roman Ruler), 2002 (War Emblem) and 2001 (Point Given).

Post time for Haskell Day is noon, with the Grade 1 United Nations also part of the stakes-filled card. The Grade 3 Monmouth Cup, the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher and the Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes are part of the undercard as well.

Details for Haskell Day tickets will be announced shortly.

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Rushie’s ‘Natural Speed’ Will Play To His Advantage In Blue Grass

Jim and Donna Daniell's Rushie, third behind Honor A. P. in the June 6 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his most recent start, drew post 10 in the 13-horse field for Saturday's $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland.

“I'm fine with the draw,” trainer Michael McCarthy said Wednesday afternoon from his base at Del Mar. “He's very tactical. He's got plenty of natural ability and natural speed. I would imagine he'd probably be laying somewhere in that first group of horses going into the first turn.”

Rushie will be ridden by Javier Castellano, who won the 2019 Toyota Blue Grass aboard Vekoma.

McCarthy has had only two starters at Keeneland, and Rushie will become his first runner in the Toyota Blue Grass. The colt is a member of the first crop of Liam's Map, who won the 2015 Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland. Liam's Map is the sire of another Toyota Blue Grass hopeful, Basin.

Rushie is out of the Colonel John mare Conquest Angel, whose half-sister Peace and War won Keeneland's Darley Alcibiades (G1) in 2014. His family also includes last year's Darley Alcibiades winner, champion British Idiom.

Rushie is not nominated to the Triple Crown, but his performance in the Toyota Blue Grass might change that status.

“We're going to let him earn his way to the first Saturday in September – that sounds strange to say that,” McCarthy said about the rescheduled Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). “If he were to run well, it's something that the Daniells and myself would go ahead and think about. There are plenty of races out there later in the summer and in the fall all over the country that will be worth taking a look at, so let's see what happens.

“If he jumps up and runs well, I guess we have to think about something like that. It's a good problem to have.”

McCarthy has entered Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stables' Speech in both Friday's $100,000 Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select and Saturday's $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1). In her last race, Speech was second to Swiss Skydiver in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2). Swiss Skydiver will face Rushie in the Toyota Blue Grass.

“I like the idea of the Beaumont, the one turn on the Beard Course,” he said referring to the stakes' distance of 7 furlongs, 184 feet. “Just thought it would be a good idea for insurance to go ahead and enter in the Ashland just in case something crazy happened over the next 48 hours.”

So he's leaning toward the Beaumont for Speech?

“Ah …… Not sure yet.”

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Honor A. P. To Lane’s End Upon Retirement

Honor A. P. (Honor Code-Hollywood Story, by Wild Rush) will be retired to Lane’s End Farm upon the conclusion of his racing career, the farm announced today. The three-year-old is from the first crop by his sire, who also stands at Lane’s End, and is his highest earner.

Honor A. P. has finished first or second in each of his four starts, winning the GI Santa Anita Derby in his last outing June 6, and establishing himself as a favorite for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby.

“He’s a horse that we have had an eye on since David Ingordo bought him as a yearling for Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stable,” said Bill Farish. “He was a standout at Saratoga and at $850,000 ended up being the highest-priced yearling in Honor Code’s first crop. April Mayberry was quietly touting him while he was being broken and John Shirreffs has been high on him since he arrived at Santa Anita. We are very excited to secure another prospect from the A.P. Indy line. As is the case with most of our stallions having a strong syndicate behind them is very important to their success. We are emboldened by the quality of the syndicate that has come together to support him. His looks, pedigree and his growing resume as a top racehorse gives him a great chance to be a successful sire.”

Honor A. P. debuted August 17, 2019 at Del Mar, racing greenly to be second. He won his next start at Santa Anita in October as the 2-5 favorite, drawing away to win by 5 1/4 lengths. Before he could race in 2020, he suffered a stone bruise in February which briefly sidelined him, and he was second in his comeback and 2020 debut to Authentic in the GII San Felipe March 7. He subsequently defeated the previously unbeaten Authentic next out in the G1 Santa Anita Derby, while posting a 102 Beyer, the highest of any three-year old colt currently on the Derby trail.

His trainer, John Shirreffs, said, “I think we started seeing something in Honor A.P. when he started to gallop, and he started to lengthen his stride. If you ever see him, he just floats over the ground. He’s only just begun to show his potential.”

“We named Honor A.P. in homage to his grandsire, the breed-shaping A.P. Indy,” said Lee Searing. “It has always been my goal to race a horse of this caliber and to stand him at Lane’s End. I plan to keep an interest in Honor A. P. and help make him a top stallion.”

Honor A. P. Is out of the multiple Grade I stakes winner Hollywood Story, who earned $1,171,105 in her career. He is a half-sibling to three black-type or graded black-type winners. Hollywood Story has produced yearling and weanling fillies by Curlin and Tapit, respectively, in the past two breeding seasons.

His sire, Honor Code, was one of 36 foals from the last crop of A. P. Indy and is currently the third-leading second-crop sire in the country. His dam’s sire Wild Rush, like Honor Code a previous winner of the GI Met Mile, hails from the Icecapade line, was eventually exported to Japan, and has produced 28 stakes winners out of his daughters. Honor A. P. will have one more start before the Kentucky Derby September 5th.

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