Haskell J

AMERICAN GRADED STAKES

PREVIEWS

If RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) was ever going to face the boys again

following her historic victory in the Preakness S. (G1), she wasn't going to

find a more ideal spot than Sunday's $1,250,000 Haskell Invitational (G1) at

Monmouth Park. We say this not because of the competition she faces, which will

present a good challenge for her, but the nine-furlong distance and the way the

local surface traditionally plays toward horses with her running style make

this such a suitable race to pad an already rich resume.

Now that Rachel is here and her male rivals are known, we expect another

winning performance from the Steve Asmussen trainee, who seeks to follow in the

hoofsteps of champion Serena's Song, who in 1995 became the first and only filly

to date to win this important summertime test. Unbeaten in six starts this year,

she has all the necessary tools to prevail again. She's simply the best

three-year-old of either sex around, period. We'll stick our neck out and

predict a professional, if not comfortable, win. It's much harder for Rachel to

dominate colts the way she does other fillies, but she still figures to get to

the wire first.

MUNNINGS (Speightstown) is in peak condition following scores in the Woody

Stephens S. (G2) and Tom Fool H. (G2), both at seven furlongs. Distance is

obviously an issue, but we think his tactical foot and good form can carry him a

long way in this contest. We prefer the filly at this trip, but if handled

rightly this one can hang on for a major slice.

SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone), the Belmont S. (G1) winner, has had the benefit of

training at Monmouth for the past month, but unless the leaders completely

collapse it's hard to envision his deep-closing style being effective here. He

probably wants more distance and this should serve as a good prep for the

Travers S. (G1) later this month.

DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme Hall) is a vastly improving colt who earned a

remarkable BRIS Late Pace figure of 116 when romping by five lengths in the Iowa

Derby last time. Unfortunately, he is likely to spot Rachel Alexandra several

lengths in the early stages and will need to get into the race sooner than usual

to have a chance at the upset. We intend to use him liberally in our exotics

plans.

PAPA CLEM (Smart Strike), the Arkansas Derby (G2) winner, is presumably better than

his distant third in the Long Branch S. would suggest, but we still don't like

the fact he didn't fare better that day despite a slow start. This field is far

better than what he faced there, and he finished nearly eight lengths in back of

Rachel in the Preakness. ATOMIC RAIN (Smart Strike), the Long Branch winner, has

been battling a sore foot all week and is not guaranteed to start. We feel

everything generally has to go perfect for a horse to win a race of this

caliber, and we'll take a stand against given his recent infirmities. BUNKER

HILL (Trippi) is a nice horse but not of this caliber. Last out he was seven

lengths adrift of Big Drama (Montbrook), who bolted for West Virginia when

Rachel Alexandra was confirmed as a Haskell starter.