Classic Winners Clash in Haskell

Since 1970, no fewer than nine winners of the GI Kentucky Derby have made the trip to the Jersey Shore, and several of those have failed to double up in the race now known as the GI Betfair.com Haskell Invitational S. That group includes Dust Commander (3rd in 1970); Riva Ridge (4th, 1972); Spend A Buck (2nd, 1985); and Alysheba (2nd, 1987). War Emblem and Big Brown launched successful raids in 2002 and 2008, respectively, and, before a record crowd of 60,983 adoring fans, Triple Crown winner and eventual GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero and Horse of the Year American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) followed suit last summer. Paul Reddam's Nyquist (Uncle Mo), who became the first horse to emerge from Churchill Downs undefeated since Seattle Slew nearly four decades earlier, becomes the latest hero of the Run for the Roses to try to add New Jersey's most important Thoroughbred event Sunday afternoon, and what the Haskell lacks in numbers–no more than nine horses have started since 2004–it makes up for in quality.

Perfect in his five starts at two en route to his Eclipse Award, Nyquist was programmed for two starts leading up to the Derby and won each, besting Exaggerator (Curlin) in the GII San Vicente S. over seven panels at Santa Anita Feb. 15 before beating Mohaymen (Tapit) into fourth in the GI Florida Derby Apr. 2.  The bay colt got the better of Exaggerator and Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) beneath the Twin Spires on the first Saturday in May, but Nyquist was the victim of what trainer Doug O'Neill admits was poor game-planning and could finish only third to Exaggerator in the GI Preakness. Original plans called for the colt to press on to the GI Belmont S., but an elevated temperature dashed those plans and, after five works in Southern California in the last six weeks, he finds himself where the East Coast turf meets the surf.

Exaggerator was best-backed to turn the tables on Nyquist at Old Hilltop, caught sloppy underfoot conditions he arguably finds optimal, was given a head's-up ride from trainer Keith Desormeaux's brother Kent and stormed home to post a decisive 3 1/2-length success. The dark bay trained well in the three weeks leading up to the Belmont, but he faltered badly in the stretch to finish tailed off. After first being pointed for Saturday's GII Jim Dandy S., connections called an 11th-hour audible to come Monmouth, perhaps owing to Keith Desormeaux's dissatisfaction with the way Exaggerator has gotten over the track at Saratoga. He'll need some help from a pace standpoint Sunday, but that is not outside the realm of possibility.

Gun Runner, consistent as the day is long in 2016, admittedly enjoyed a perfect trip in the Derby, but the effort cannot really be diminished, as he raced very close to that fast pace and Nyquist and Exaggerator were the only ones able to get past late. Connections took the decision to pass the Preakness, and the Winchell/Three Chimneys colorbearer dictated terms and overwhelmed five fellow sophomores in the June 18 GIII Matt Winn S. at Churchill. He does not need the lead, however, as evidenced by wins in the GII Risen Star S. and GII Louisiana Derby.

American Freedom (Pulpit) has earned his way into the Haskell and is the rare Bob Baffert participant to fly beneath the radar. Inexplicably sixth as the favorite in the GIII Pat Day Mile S. May 7, the bay fought back gamely to win Pimlico's Sir Barton S. just two weeks later and proved far too superior for his rivals in the GIII Iowa Derby July 1. He seems likeliest to take it to the favorite in the early stages.

No local has won the Haskell since Skip Away (Skip Trial) in 1996 and it would take something completely unforseen to see that streak snapped Sunday. Live Oak Plantation's Awesome Slew (Awesome Again), a three-length allowance winner going six furlongs May 21, was a creditable third to Donegal Moon (Malibu Moon) in the GIII Pegasus S. June 19, but would need to improve by many lengths to worry the big guns. Sunny Ridge, a son of 1994 Haskell hero Holy Bull, won the GIII Withers S. in his first outing of 2016, but is unraced since a fourth in the GIII Gotham S. Mar. 5.