​When it comes to the Jersey Shore’s biggest summer party, nobody knows how to conquer the Monmouth Park dirt quite like Bob Baffert. The Hall of Fame trainer holds the all-time record for the most victories in the prestigious Grade 1 Haskell Stakes.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOver his legendary career, Baffert has captured the Haskell crown an astonishing NINE times and it’s unlikely he’s finished yet.From legendary Triple Crown heroes to gutsy, breakout speedsters, Baffert’s dominance at Monmouth Park is unparalleled.With Bob Baffert’s first Haskell Stakes win coming back in 2001 with the Gary Steven’s ridden Point Given.And heading into the 2026 renewal, Authentic in 2020 (Mike E Smith) is his most recent winner.Here is a look back at his nine Bob Baffert Haskell Stakes winning years, the horse racing champions and the riders who guided them to glory.For the 2026 running, Baffert is back to try and secure his milestone tenth Haskell Stakes trophy.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHis primary weapon this year is Crude Velocity.A super-fast colt owned by CSLR Racing Partners, Crude Velocity has already shown elite talent around one turn.He secured a Grade 1 victory in the Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard before a solid run in the Woody Stevens Stakes.Baffert is replicating a classic, winning blueprint here.In 2014, his champion Bayern used a Woody Stevens run as a launching pad to stretch out to two turns and wire the Haskell field.Crude Velocity will try to do the exact same thing.The Running Style: He is an aggressive front-runner. He wants to lead early and dare the rest of the field to catch him.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Challenge: The biggest question mark is the distance. Stretching out to1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) around two turns is a major test for a horse that has spent his career in high-speed, one-turn mile sprints. If he gets loose on an easy lead, he’s incredibly dangerous.However, if other local speed-demons like Pegasus Stakes winner Baby Vino press him early, it could compromise his late stamina.Betting Outlook: Expect Crude Velocity to open as a strong second or third choice on the morning line, likely settling in around the 7-2 to 9-2 range depending on his post position draw.Mark your calendars and get ready for the biggest race of the summer at the Jersey Shore!AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDate: Saturday, July 18, 2026Post Time: Approximately 5:45 PM ET (The Haskell is scheduled as Race 12 on a massive 14-race card) Distance: 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) Track Surface: Main Dirt Track Purse: $1,000,000Where to Watch (TV): Live national coverage on NBC and streaming on Peacock from 5:00 to 6:00 PM ETWith the official post-position draw scheduled for the week of the race, we have a phenomenal, highly competitive field of sophomore stars lining up for the $1 million prize.Below is a breakdown of the expected top contenders and their projected morning-line odds:The re