Oxbow, Verrazano highlight prospective field for Haskell

The field for Monmouth Park's signature event, the Grade 1, $1 million

Haskell Invitational, continues to take shape with Preakness winner Oxbow, Wood

Memorial winner Verrazano, Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul and Easy Goer

Stakes winner Power Broker all pointing to the 1 1/8-mile event on July 28.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who sent out fellow Hall of Famer

Serena's Song to take 1995 Haskell, will be back with Oxbow, who enters the

Haskell off a runner-up effort in the Belmont Stakes on June 8. The Calumet Farm

colorbearer has earned more than $1 million in his 12-race career.

Verrazano, who entered the Kentucky Derby a perfect four-for-four, enters the

Haskell off an impressive front-running score in the Pegasus Stakes here on June

16. The colt by More Than Ready has won five of his six starts, all with Hall of

Fame rider John Velazquez in the irons.

Trainer Dallas Stewart will be represented by his first Haskell starter with

his expected entrant Golden Soul. The Charles Fipke homebred was a hard-charging

second to Orb in the Kentucky Derby and will be making his first start since a

ninth in the Belmont Stakes.

Power Broker will be looking to give trainer Bob Baffert an unprecedented

fourth in a row and seventh overall victory in the Haskell. A gate to wire

winner of the Easy Goer last out, Power Broker, who broke his maiden last fall

in the FrontRunner at Santa Anita, rides a two-race win streak into the Haskell.

Others considering the Haskell for their next start include Long Branch

winner Micromanage, Swaps winner Chief Havoc and Preakness third-place finisher

Mylute.

Select seats for the Haskell are still available and can be purchased on-line

at www.monmouthpark.com,

by calling 732-571-5563, or visiting the reserved seat ticket booth at the track

on live race days.

A 14-race card is anticipated for Haskell Day, with gates opening at 10 a.m.

and first post at noon (EDT).

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