NEWS
Big Brown overwhelming favorite for Haskell Invitational
Posted: Thursday, July 31, 2008 2:58 PM
BIG BROWN
Bob Coglianese photo
by Tom De Martini
IEAH Stable’s and Paul Pompa Jr.’s dual classic winner Big Brown was installed as the prohibitive 1-to-2 morning-line favorite against six challengers in the $1-million Haskell Invitational Stakes Presented by Vonage (G1) on Sunday at Monmouth Park.
The Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner makes his much anticipated return to racing in the 41st edition of the Haskell after being pulled up in the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 7.
IEAH co-President Michael Iavarone said he was relieved that the Boundary colt is breaking from post four instead of the rail. Big Brown broke from the inside post at Belmont Park and had issues with the pace scenario and traffic troubles on the clubhouse turn.
“The post position was a factor in the Belmont,” Iavarone said. “Anytime we can avoid the one post, it’s good for us.”
Iavarone said he was pleased by Big Brown’s six-furlong breeze in 1:10.86 on July 26 at trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.’s Aqueduct base and is eager for the colt to prove his Belmont performance was an aberration.
"He could be better than the Big Brown we saw before the Derby,” Iavarone said. “On Saturday, he laid down one of the best works ever at Aqueduct. This racetrack [Monmouth] will suit him perfectly. The Belmont proved there’s no foregone conclusion in racing and we’ve been anticipating getting to this stage to re-assert himself as a great horse.”
Big Brown will ship to the Oceanport, New Jersey, track on Saturday morning.
The tandem of owner Robert LaPenta and trainer Nick Zito, who saddled Da’ Tara to victory in the Belmont Stakes, will send the uncoupled entry of Cool Coal Man and Coal Play against Big Brown.
Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner Cool Coal Man notched a neck victory over the course in the June 14 Spend a Buck Stakes. Coal Play sports a 9 ¼-length allowance victory over the Monmouth course.
“They’re both capable of throwing a big race at times,” said Zito, who withdrew Long Branch Stakes winner Truth Rules from the race on Thursday after the colt spiked a fever.
Paraneck Stable’s Magical Forest, who enters off back-to-back victories in the Floor Show and Barbaro (G3) Stakes at Delaware Park, was a last-minute entry into the Haskell.
Trainer Joe DeMola said the Forest Camp colt is improving daily and deserved a shot.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won the last two runnings of the Haskell with Bluegrass Cat and Any Given Saturday, will send out Dogwood Stable’s Grade 2-placed Atoned.
The Repent colt ran credible second-place races in the Spend a Buck and Long Branch Stakes and will race with the addition of blinkers on Sunday, Pletcher said.
The Haskell is the 13th race on a special 14-race card with post time set for 6:14 p.m. EDT. The race is scheduled to be televised live on Television Games Network and ESPN Classic.
Tom De Martini is a New Jersey-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
The field, in post position order with (sire), jockey, weight, trainer, and morning-line odds:
1. Magical Forest (Forest Camp), Jorge Chavez, 118, Joseph DeMola; 10-to-1
2. Cool Coal Man (Mineshaft), Eddie Castro, 118, Nick Zito; 4-to-1
3. Alaazo (A.P. Indy), Jose Lezcano, 118, Bill Mott; 30-to-1
4. Big Brown (Boundary), Kent Desormeaux, 122, Richard Dutrow Jr.; 1-to-2
5. Nistle’s Crunch (VanNistelrooy), Elvis Trujillo, 118, Kenneth McPeek; 15-to-1
6. Coal Play (Mineshaft), Joe Bravo, 118, Nick Zito, and; 8-to-1
7. Atoned (Repent), Edgar Prado, 118, Todd Pletcher; 6-to-1.
