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Betty Grable Stakes Breeders Cup Wrap Up Breeders Cup Saturday Breeders Cupnbsp;Friday Breeders Cup Thursday |
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 Flavien Prat aboard Redistricting before the United Nations Stakes (G2) on Haskell Day |
The 41,876 fans who came out to Monmouth Park on Saturday afternoon for the NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes (G1) enjoyed 4 additional graded stakes races on the undercard. Conditions were typical for mid July on the Jersey Shore, with a fast main track, cloudy skies and temperatures in the high 70's. The main track was rated fast and the turf course firm. Betting on the 14 race card drew a new record Haskell Day handle of $21,999,962.
Immediately before the Haskell, a field of 9 older horses contested the $600,000 United Nations Stakes (G2) over 1 3/8 miles on the turf. Monmouth Stakes winner and Old Forester Turf Classic (G1) 6th place finisher Redistricting was sent off as the 6-5 favorite over 7-2 second choice Limited Liability, 2nd in the Elkhorn (G2), and 4-1 third choice Rebel Red, winner of the Chorleywood Stakes.
Jockey John Velazquez sent 13-1 Major Dude to the lead first time by through easy fractions of 24.55, 49.42, 1:14.10, and 1:37.80 while pressed by Limited Liability and stalked by Redistricting. Turning for home Major Dude continued to lead through 10f in 2:01.11 but favorite Redistricting came out for room under Flavien Prat and rallied to win by 1 1/2 lengths over late-running 7-1 Grand Sonata in 2:13.75. It was another 1/2 length back to Major Dude third.
Left: Redistricting returns after the race. Luis Cabrera, assistant to winning trainer Chad Brown said, "He showed that he really liked this turf course in his last start. He won very easily – actually, today he was pretty good too. The trip was perfect. He likes to run in front but if someone else goes he can sit there off the pace. I think the key was the turf course. He really liked it. He's bred for this distance. These horses from Europe are bred to go this long so I wasn't worried about that."
Right: The trophy presentation for the race. Winning jockey Flavien Prat said, "He got himself into the race. I was going to go but I felt like Major Dude was committed to going so I sat right behind him. Good horses give you a good punch and that's what he gave me when I got through. I always felt like I was traveling well and had a lot of horse under me. After that it would be whoever got the best punch and he did today."
Left: Second place finisher Grand Sonata heads out to the track before the race. The Todd Pletcher trainee improved his record to 5 wins, 8 seconds, and 2 thirds in 30 starts, earning $2,244,935 for owner-breeder Whisper Hill Farm.
Right: Third place finisher Major Dude walks over before the race. The Todd Pletcher trainee improved his record to 7 wins, 4 seconds, and 5 thirds in 24 starts, earning $1,266,647 for owner Spendthrift Farm.
The $400,000 Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3) featured a field of 6 older horses going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Metropolitan Handicap (G1) third place finisher Just a Touch was sent off as the 1-10 favorite over 9-2 second choice Classic Catch, 2nd in the Excelsior, and 16-1 Vitality, winner of the 2024 Prince of Wales Stakes but 3rd in an allowance last out.
Jockey Florent Geroux sent Just a Touch to the lead first time by through fractions of 24.90, 49.55, and 1:13.25 while pressed by 22-1 Cadet Corps and stalked by Classic Catch. Turning for home 19-1 Surface to Air, 4th early under Samuel Marin, came out 3 wide and rallied to catch Just a Touch late to win by 1/2 length in 1:49.29. It was a long 7 lengths back to Cadet Corps third.
Left: Surface to Air returns after the race. Winning trainer Peter Synnefias, celebrating his first stakes win, said, "Last year in this race (when the horse finished seventh) we rushed into the race. We didn't have much time to prep. This time we were able to prepare for this race. We used the Salvator Mile to get ready and he came back in good order. We were able to put a couple of more works in him and he has done everything right. This was an obvious spot for us. We had this planned all along. We thought we had a chance last year in this race but it didn't line up the way we wanted it to. When I saw my horse at the half-mile pole I was very happy. Yes, he definitely ran the race of his life."
Right: Surface to Air in the post parade. Winning jockey Samuel Marin said, "When we hit the 3/8 pole, I knew the only horse I had to beat was [Just a Touch], so I said I'd better go. I just asked him for more and he kept on going."
Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Just a Touch heads out for the post parade. The Brad Cox trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 4 seconds, and 1 third in 9 starts, earning $640,778 for owners Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing, and Marc Detampel.
Right: Third place finisher Cadet Corps in the post parade. The Kelly Breen trainee improved his record to 14 wins, 3 seconds, and 6 thirds in 39 starts, earning $350,126 for owners Kenwood Racng and Kelly Breen.
The $300,000 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes (G3) featured a field of 7 older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Distaff Turf Mile (G2) 7th place finisher Sacred Wish was sent off as the 11-10 favorite over 11-4 second choice Segesta, 6th in the Just a Game (G1), and 11-2 third choice No Mo Candy, 7th in the Mint Julep (G3).
Jockey Javier Castellano sent No Mo Candy to the lead through fractions of 24.70, 50.09, and 1:13.91 while pressed by Segesta and stalked by 15-1 Five Towns. Into the stretch jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sent Segesta out for room and outfinished late-running favorite Sacred Wish by a neck in 1:49.17. It was a nose back to 8-1 Grayosh third.
Left: Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. celebrates aboard Segesta after the race. Luis Cabrera, assistant to winning trainer Chad Brown said, "Irad Ortiz said this filly relaxed a lot so she was able to get a nice tracking trip. He has ridden her before and he said when she relaxes she is usually good. Her last race the turf was yielding and she probably didn't like that. We like winning this race. We want to keep it going as long as we can."
Right: Segesta returns after the race. Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said, "I was so happy because my filly came back to me, and as soon as she came back to me I said, 'Beautiful'. Then I just bided my time. At the three-sixteenths pole I asked her and went a little aggressive on her because she was doing it so easy. I had to wake her up every step of the way. She's that kind where she doesn't like you to be too aggressive. I gave her a smooth ride and it worked out."
Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Sacred Wish in the post parade. The George Weaver trainee improved her record to 4 wins, 8 seconds, and 3 thirds in 21 starts, earning $1,174,789 for owners Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher Dunn, and Anthony Spinazzola.
Right: Third place finisher Grayosh walks over before the race. The Chad Brown trainee improved her record to 2 wins, 1 second, and 2 thirds in 10 starts, earning $262,693 for owner Flanagan Racing.
The $500,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) featured a field of 6 older fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. La Troienne (G1) third place finisher and Ogden Phipps (G1) 5th place finisher Randomized was sent off as the 2-1 favorite over 9-4 second choice Dorth Vader, winner of the Ogden Phipps, and 5-2 third choice Candied, winner of the Allaire DuPont Stakes.
Jockey Flavien Prat sent Randomized to the lead through fractions of 23.97, 47.25, and 1:10.98 while pressed by Dorth Vader and stalked by Candied. Into the stretch Randomized continued to lead through 1 mile in 1:36.15 and drew off to win by 3 lengths over late-running 6-1 fourth choice Majestic Oops in 1:42.75. It was a nose bck to Candied third.
Left: Randomized returns after the race. Luis Cabrera, assistant to winning trainer Chad Brown said, "It was a nice (comeback) win for her. It's a fast track and there was a lot of speed in the race so we just tried to break good and keep going. It was perfect. The last four of her five races were in Grade 1s, so the class relief helped. It will build her confidence and we'll go from here. The ride from Flavien Prat was perfect. He's a great rider."
Right: The trophy presentation for the race. Winning jockey Flavien Prat said, "She's a mare that always is forwardly placed. She jumped well out of the gate and got herself in the lead and took it from there. She felt very good."
Left: Second place finisher Majestic Oops in the post parade. The Dan Ward trainee improved her record to 7 wins, 11 seconds, and 3 thirds in 30 starts, earning $536,559 for owners Medallion Racing, Agave Racing Stable, Evan Trommer, Sublime Stables, and Janet Kropp.
Right: Third place finisher Candied heads out to the track before the race. The Todd Pletcher trainee improved her record to 4 wins, 2 seconds, and 5 thirds in 12 starts, earning $1,303,488 for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bobby Flay.
On to the 2025 Haskell results and photos
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