Kentucky-breds Mage, winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1), the undefeated Arabian Knight, and Grade 1 winner Tapit Trice top a field of eight horses entered in the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 22. Mage has been installed as the 3-1 co-second choice, along with Tapit Trice, while Arabian Knight is the 5-2 morning-line favorite. As a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge race, the Haskell will be a springboard to the Breeders’ Cup at season’s end as the winner receives a berth in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Owned by OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, and CMNWLTH, Mage rallied strongly in the lane to take down top prize in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and then finished third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) behind National Treasure and Blazing Sevens. The son of Good Magic is trained by Gustavo Delgado and was bred in Kentucky by Grandview Equine. Mage is out of the Big Brown mare Puca.
“I believe the horse’s entire body of work and his entire career is what defines him,” said co-owner Ramiro Restrepo. “It’s not just one race. He had a great break. It’s the start of the second half of his 3-year-old year. We feel he’s good enough to compete and put forth a quality effort. Hopefully, that’s good enough to get the job done and put forth a great performance and keep it moving. We’re happy we have a talented horse who’s feeling good, and we hope he’ll give a great account of himself Saturday.”
Blue Grass (G1) stakes and Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Tapit Trice, owned by Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway, exits a third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 10. Trainer Todd Pletcher said the son of Tapit came out of the Belmont in excellent shape.
“Post position five works well,” noted Pletcher, who has won the Haskell three times). “He’s had a history of drawing inside, so that works out well. It looks like there’s plenty of pace for him to run at.”
Tapit Trice was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds and was a $1.3 million Keeneland September Sale graduate. He is produced from the Dunkirk mare Danzatrice.
Arabian Knight, a son of Uncle Mo and a $2.3 million acquisition by Zedan Racing Stables from this year’s OBS Spring Sale, will be making just his third career start. He is trained by Bob Baffert, who is seeking to add to his record nine Haskell wins.
“It’s exciting to win the Haskell,” said Baffert. “It’s a race where every year when I’m (evaluating) my 2-year-olds I always try to figure out who’s going to be my Haskell horse. The reason we’ve always been so successful there is because I always my best horses there. You need to do that if you’re going to win that race.”
Arabian Knight broke his maiden on the undercard of last year’ Breeders’ Cup, and then notched a front-running victory in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park in January in his only other outing. His combined margin of victory was 12 ¾ lengths.
“The layoff freshened him up,” Baffert said. “He’s doing really well. He’s pretty fit. I think he’s ready for the mile and an eighth and it’s going to be a tough race, but he’s trained well.”
Geaux Rocket Ride, Salute the Stars, Howgreatisnate, and Extra Anejo round out the Kentucky-bred contingent in the Haskell.