Dornoch and Mindframe battling for the win in the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.
Dornoch and Mindframe lead Saturday’s Haskell Stakes Live At 5 P.M. ET on NBC and Peacock
Winner Gains Automatic Berth into $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic
Breeders’ Cup Release
OCEANPORT, N.J.— Led by Dornoch and Mindframe, the first two finishers last month’s Belmont Stakes (G1), a talented field of eight 3-year-olds has been entered in Saturday’s $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey, for a free berth into the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The Haskell will be televised live on NBC and Peacock beginning at 5 p.m. ET.
The Haskell Stakes is a part of the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In,” broadcast on NBC, CNBC, and Peacock from some of North America’s most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California on Nov. 1-2. The complete Challenge series TV schedule can be accessed here. The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, made up of 82 races hosted by 12 countries, awards automatic qualifying berths into corresponding races at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Saturday’s broadcast will also include the 1 3/8-mile, $600,000 United Nations Stakes (G2) on turf.
NBC Sports’ coverage will feature commentary and discussion led by host Britney Eurton, analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, a five-time winner of the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, and handicappers Michelle Yu and Matt Bernier.
Dornoch, trained by Danny Gargan, and owned in partnership by Philadelphia Phillies World Series hero Jayson Werth, rebounded sharply from a 10th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) to win the June 8 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga by a half-length over the lightly raced Mindframe. A son of Good Magic, Dornoch has won two of four starts this year, which includes the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. The second choice on the morning line at 5-2, Dornoch will be ridden from post 1 by Luis Saez.
In just his third start, Mindframe, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, gained the lead in deep stretch of the Belmont Stakes in the center of the track, before losing his advance to Dornoch approaching the wire for a second-place finish. On the basis of that performance, Mindframe has been made the 9-5 morning line favorite in the Haskell for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who has also entered Tuscan Sky and Fierceness.
“On one side I was elated with his effort in the Belmont and on the other I was a little disappointed he didn’t win. At the eighth pole he had a big chance,” Pletcher said about Mindframe. “One of our concerns going into the Belmont was he was running against horses with a lot more experience. I think that little bit of greenness he showed in the mid-stretch when he veered out may have cost him the win.”
Mindframe will be ridden from post 7 by five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who currently leads all North American riders in wins and total purses.
Spendthrift Farm’s Tuscan Sky, 9-2, has won three of four races, including his most recent start at Monmouth Park, when he took the listed June 15 NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes at 1 1/16 miles by a widening 6 3/4 lengths. He will be ridden by Javier Castellano from post 3.
Repole Stable’s Fierceness, winner of last year’s FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), and voted the 2-year-old champion, has not raced since finishing 15th as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby. Fierceness will be a likely scratch if Mindframe continues in good order to start in the Haskell.
Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC’s Timberlake, trained by Brad Cox and ridden from post 4 by Flavien Prat, has not started since March 30 when he finished fourth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. He won Oaklawn’s Feb. 24 Rebel Stakes (G2) in his previous race.
The United Nations Stakes, which drew 12 starters, features a rematch of the dead-heat winners in the June 15 Monmouth Stakes (G3): Fort Washington, trained by Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III, and the Chad Brown-trained Running Bee. Brown has also entered 2022 United Nations winner Adhamo (IRE).
