How to bet the 2022 Haskell Stakes

Jack Christopher winning the Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont Park (Photo by Joe Labozzetta/Coglianese Photos)

July 21st, 2022

An excellent field of eight sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles over the Monmouth Park main surface in Saturday’s $1 million Haskell S. (G1). Four Grade 1 winners will highlight the signature event of the meeting, and the race figures to go through the powerful quartet.

Chad Brown’s unbeaten #7 Jack Christopher (3-2) is the headliner of the cast and gets top billing from this corner while making his two-turn debut. The brilliant son of Munnings has been special from the word go when dominating at first asking at Saratoga last season, and he returned to roll home a facile winner of the Champagne S. (G1) in his two-year-old finale.

The $135,000 yearling purchase cruised home in the Pat Day Mile S. (G2) at Churchill Downs to kick off 2022 and was even more impressive in the subsequent Woody Stephens S. (G1) at Belmont Park when finishing 10 lengths in front while under minimal urging in the stretch.

#JackChristopher much the best in the Pat Day Mile (G2) from @ChurchillDowns with @jose93_ortiz up for @TheRealChadCBr1.

Your #TwinSpiresReplay 👇 pic.twitter.com/AnH1N2qKI6
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 7, 2022

Jack Christopher has given every indication that he can carry his speed nine furlongs, and the Monmouth strip is a perfect surface in which to try a two-turn race for the first time. He will be forcing the action from the opening bell under the guidance of regular pilot Jose Ortiz.

I have interest in #6 White Abarrio (5-1) for the exotics as a value inclusion. The Saffie Joseph trainee earned his biggest win to date when taking down the Florida Derby (G1) in April, and the Race Day colt prepped for Saturday with a strong runner-up result in the Ohio Derby (G3). The gray will be fit and could sit an advantageous trip tracking a strong early tempo. Joel Rosario picks up the mount.

Santa Anita Derby (G1) hero #2 Taiba (7-5) has an incredibly high ceiling for conditioner Bob Baffert, who has won this race a record nine times. The $1.7 million son of Gun Runner made the maiden-to-Grade 1 jump with ease this spring and he has trained in swift fashion in anticipation of this tilt. Mike Smith comes in to ride.