America’s Best Racing editor Patrick Reed presents four takeaways from an eventful weekend in horse racing highlighted by the NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, featuring several race results that should have an impact on the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in the fall.
Tag: The Sport
Kona Gold’s Sustained Excellence the Signature of His Hall of Fame Career
To make it to one Breeders’ Cup is special for any horse and the people connected to them To win a Breeders’ Cup race puts that horse in elite company. To make five consecutive starts at the Breeders’ Cup is a testament to a horse’s quality, a trainer’s expertise, and an owner’s faith. Kona Gold was a stalwart sprinter whose soundness and speed made him a star and earned him accolades aplenty, including a spot in the 2026 Hall of Fame class.
Longshot Baby Vino Beats Napoleon Solo to Score Dramatic Haskell Stakes Upset
The 59th running of the Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes attracted a stellar field to Monmouth Park on July 18. There was a classic winner in the Haskell field of seven along with another Grade 1 winner and three other colts who were Grade 1 placed, but on a grey, rainy day filled with smog and lightning and two weather delays at the Jersey Shore, the eventual winner was none of them.
Saratoga Stories: A Champion in 15 Days
In today’s world of Thoroughbred horse racing, the path to winning an Eclipse award as champion 2-year-old is relatively clear. First, you win a maiden race for horses who have never won a race before. Then, you try to win at least one graded stakes race (preferably a Grade 1) and hopefully more; finally, you win either the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile or Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies to become the clear-cut champion of your division.
