Monmouth Park: Graded stakes spot plays for Haskell Day

Think the Haskell (G1) is the only major race at Monmouth Park on Saturday? Think again!

Monmouth’s 14-race card contains half a dozen competitive stakes races. Let’s follow the action with a trio of spot plays

Race 10: Monmouth Cup (G3, 4:40 p.m. ET)

In a wide-open, 1 1/8-mile race, we’ll place a small win bet on #4 Harpers First Ride (12-1). This 4-year-old gelding has shown improvement since he was claimed by high-percentage trainer Claudio Gonzalez, with five wins from seven starts dating back to October 2019.

With his tactical speed and Brisnet Speed ratings in the upper 90s, Harpers First Ride needs only a small step forward to vie for victory in the Monmouth Cup. A pair of recent allowance victories at Laurel Park suggest he can fire a big shot in his third start off a 3 1/2-month layoff.

$10 to win on #4 Harpers First Ride

Race 11: United Nations (G1, 5:12 p.m. ET)

#9 Paret (6-1) has undergone an incredible transformation since he stretched out in distance. After he came in second in the 1 1/2-mile Point of Entry S. at Belmont last fall, the former Australian sprinter returned from a 7 1/2-month layoff to upset Belmont’s 1 3/8-mile Tiller S., where he led all the way to prevail by a head.

As the only true frontrunner in the United Nations field, Paret will have every chance to shake loose on an uncontested lead and wire this field at a nice price.

We’ll bet him to win and box him in the exacta, with the improving #5 Aquaphobia (9-2), the mount of four-time United Nations-winning jockey Joe Bravo. Underneath, we’ll add #1 Arklow (5-2) and #8 Corelli (10-1) to the mix.

$11 to win on #9 Paret
$1 exacta Box: 5,9 ($2)
$2 exacta: 5,9 with 1,5,8,9 ($12)
Total: $25

Race 14: Molly Pitcher (G3, 6:51 p.m. ET)

#1 She’s a Julie (5-2) is favored off a hard-fought victory in the Ogden Phipps (G1) at Belmont Park, but the lightly raced #2 Royal Flag (3-1) can give her a run for the money. Trained by Chad Brown, Royal Flag is 3-for-3 in races a mile or farther and recently battled to victory in a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Churchill Downs, where she won by a half-length over future Delaware H. (G2) runner-up Saracosa.

As a daughter of Candy Ride, out of a Mineshaft mare, Royal Flag is bred to improve with maturity and probably hasn’t hit her peak. For good measure, jockey Paco Lopez has been super-hot at Monmouth (13-for-34), which stamps Royal Flag as a live threat to upset She’s a Julie.

We'll bet Royal Flag to win and play her on top in the exacta and trifecta.

$12 to win on #2 Royal Flag
$4 exacta: 2 with 1,5,11 ($12)
$1 trifecta: 2 with 1,5,11 with 1,5,11 ($6)
Total: $30

Good luck!