The Lead:
Saturday's $1 million Haskell Day card at Monmouth Park features Kentucky Derby winner Mage in the main event, and 13 additional races that are loaded with intrigue. Stakes abound, and the Race 11 Haskell lead-in is the 11-furlong Grade 1 United Nations on turf. It may be the best betting race on the card with a field of 10 and a strong competitive balance. Trainer Chad Brown has won this race the past 2 years, but his noticeable absence in Saturday's field leaves the door open and the betting options attractive.

​Field Depth:
Grade 1 winner RED KNIGHT certainly has the class edge on company lines. THERAPIST has won at the Grade 2 level. Meanwhile, the likes of CATNIP, FOREIGN RELATIONS and PLANETARIO are Grade 3 successes. Beyond RED KNIGHT, this race plays much more like a Grade 3 in terms of existing resumes.

Pace:
Monmouth's turf plays a bit more forward-friendly than most and this race has had some history being won near the front. There's no absolutely dedicated pacemaker here, while SO HIGH and OCEANS MAP should be in contention for the front, while CATNIP is really the only other horse in the field who figures to be in contention. It can be taken up front.

Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

1-THERAPIST: First of 3 Mike Maker trainees in the lineup (also Yamato, Red Knight), he'll be piloted by Javier Castellano, in town to ride Mage in the Haskell. Maker has won the UN twice (2017, 2020). Gulfstream Park's Grade 2 Pan American winner has run his best races from deeper off the pace than this slower pace may favor.

2-SO HIGH: Castellano has ridden in 4 of his last 5 starts, but jumps saddles to Therapist on Saturday. He's lost 12 straight since a 2020 claiming score. Part of pace for a while, but likely passed over.

3-CATNIP: Beautifully drawn, should get a great trip and is a 2-time winner over this course, including the local prep at 1-1/8 miles. The UN will be a quarter-mile farther than he's ever run, but this 4-year-old is is in peak form and fired a bullet workout at Fair Hill while blossoming. Damside pedigree worries me for the distance, but a slow pace and favorable course can help carry some of the difference.

4-OCEANS MAP: 11 straight losses, including 3 off-the-board in allowance company, make him a difficult recommendation.

5-LIMITED LIABILITY: Trainer Shug McGaughey's lone UN victory came in 1994 with superstar Lure. This late-runner has come back at age 4 and handled the ascension into the older turf ranks after a solid sophomore campaign. Expected a bit more when beaten by Foreign Relations last time and has been flat late beyond 9 furlongs.

6-PLANETARIO: Trainer Richard Mandella won this race in 1995-'96 with Brazilian star Sandpit and is back with another South American export here. Won the 1-3/4 miles San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita by a widening margin, so the distance will be of no concern. Firm-type course at SA should translate well here to Monmouth. No reason to think he won't factor in the late conversation.

7-YAMATO: $50,000 claim in March is the Mike Maker prototype to go on to graded stakes success in turf routes historically. Decent try in Louisville Handicap on stretchout to 12 furlongs and got zero pace help that day. Could get a nice trip midpack under hustling Luis Saez. Maker has won the UN twice (2017, 2020).

8-FOREIGN RELATIONS: Mystifying effort at Ellis last time after back-to-back wins at Keeneland and Churchill. The firmer course there may have been at play, as could have been a slow pace. If it was the course, then Monmouth's firmer nature may not be an improvement. Tough read, so let the tote be your guidepost. Demand at least 8-1 on the rebound bid, but don't be shy if you get that opportunity.

9-RED KNIGHT: 9-year-old veteran has won 12 of 35 in a lightly raced career and holds the class edge over this group. But he closes from just so far back in the pack that you are concerned he'll get anough pace help over a course friendlier to the front. An all or nothing type, he's got 4 wins and 5 off-the-board finishes in his last 10 starts. Maker has won the UN twice (2017, 2020).

​10-KYGO: Middle-distance sort hasn't shown the propensity for 11 furlongs, but the pedigree certainly is there for it on both sides. He's 0-for-3 since being claimed and draws a tough post for what could be a stalking trip.

Most Certain Exotics Contender:
CATNIP should get a dynamite trip and is proven over the course.

Best Longshot Exotics Contender:
Yamato was 14-1 when bottoming the superfecta last time and has that look of a Mike Maker marathoner.

Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$60 win CATNIP. $10 exacta CATNIP to YAMATO, PLANETARIO ($20). $10 daily double part-wheel CATNIP to GEAUX ROCKET RIDE and EXTRA ANEJO in the Haskell ($20).