Haskell Day at Monmouth Park features 14 races with the $1 million main event slated for the day’s 12th event. Bettors are offered an all-stakes pick four in Races 9-12 with a $500,000-guaranteed pool. That will be the focus here, while there also will be a $250,000-guaranteed pick five on the final quintet of races on the card.

As for the all-stakes pick 4, let’s get to work.

Monmouth Park | Race 9 | $100,000 Wolf Hill Stakes

Ten turf sprinters match up in a race loaded with early speed. The outside four runners in the gate all will be barreling out of there for position at the front. The finishers who interest most are #5 Witty (9-2 ML), #4 Belgrano (5-1 ML) and #1 Eamonn (10-1 ML). Belgrano was runner-up in this race a year ago and obviously fits on his best form and will appreciate the additional distance from his most recent dash. Both Witty and Eamonn are cross-entered in the $150,000 Van Clief Stakes at Colonial Downs on Saturday. While I respect Laurel Futurity front-running winner #9 Fore Harp, I’ll ride with the closers.

Monmouth Park | Race 10 | Grade 3 $500,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes

Defending Molly Pitcher champ #4 Search Results (8-5 ML) makes a sizable drop in class after facing the best of the Distaff division. She’ll be tough to topple, but the way to do it may be from in front of her throughout. She’s hung in the stretch in four straight, albeit vs. tougher, and likely will be in pursuit of red-hot #6 Loved (5-1 ML) for a good chunk of the 1-1/16 miles assignment. Speed typically is dynamite on Haskell Day at Monmouth, so I’ll resist temptation to include #5 Le Da Vida (5-1 ML) despite some appreciation for her on paper.

Monmouth Park | Race 11 | Grade 1 $600,000 United Nations Stakes

Monmouth is a quicker, firmer turf course than most and a lack of early pace in this race could stretch the early players to play the entire mile and three-eighths of the UN. Well-drawn #3 Catnip (4-1 ML) is the play off back-to-back local course wins at shorter trips. He should be in the top-3 down the backstretch with a serious pace edge over classy #9 Red Knight (5-2 ML). This will be my gutsy single, while respecting #6 Planetario (3-1 ML) and #7 Yamato (15-1 ML) underneath in the exotics.

Monmouth Park | Race 12 | Grade 1 $1 million Haskell Invitational

Being frank, this is a Haskell where I could see 5 of the 8 runners in the winner’s circle, and that doesn’t include champion trainer Brad Cox’s local prep winner. It feels intra-race like a betting affair that will lack value, stacked with horses between 2-1 and 6-1 and almost not fair to beat 4 or 5 good ones and still only get between $6-$14 returns. #1 Geaux Rocket Ride (9-2 ML) has 5 workouts since his Affirmed win and that looks to be the most focused and demanding pattern in the field to indicate that THIS race is his objective. For many, it’s a start back from the Triple Crown or a layoff. #7 Extra Anejo (5-1 ML) is the other who looks primed primarily for this spot. It’s those two that I prefer most. But a hot pace likely sets up nicely for #4 Mage (3-1 ML) and #5 Tapit Trice (3-1 ML), and #8 Arabian Knight (5-2 ML) goes for a Baffert barn that just rarely misfires in the Haskell, winning it a ridiculous 9 times to date. I’ve got chances to beat 3 favorites in the first 3 legs, so even including a deeper cast here with shorter prices has a chance to be fruitful. The strong play will be to use Geaux Rocket Ride and Extra Anejo on additional tickets in the closeout leg, which would only cost $6 each time to do so.

The Ticket
5,4,1 with 4,6 with 3 with 1,7,8,4,5 = $15 for $.50 play
5,4,1 with 4,6 with 3 with 1,7 = $6 for each $.50 additional play