OCEANPORT – The Haskell Stakes draw is happening midday Tuesday at Monmouth Park in Oceanport.In addition to headliner Preakness winner Napoleon Solo, expected starters for the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes are Baby Vino, Further Ado, Iron Honor, Ocelli, Star Sweeper and The Puma. The race is Saturday.Career Highlights (via MonmouthPark.com): Won the NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes, the main local Haskell prep, by 10 3/4 lengths. He’s never faced Grade 1 competition, but he’s improving with every start and certainly has the look of a horse ready for primetime.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCareer Highlights: He’s a Grade 2 winner at age two, but really burst onto the scene with an 11-length romp in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland this spring. Was sent off the favorite when finishing 11th in the Kentucky Derby, but bounced back nicely with a two-length win at odds-on in the Grade 3 Matt Winn last out.Career Highlights: Was on the Kentucky Derby trail after his win in the Grade 3 Gotham over the winter but decided to wait for the Grade 1 Preakness where he finished a solid second behind Napoleon Solo. Showed a bit of a new, rating tactic last time with the blinkers off, and that race proved he fits with the best of his division.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCareer Highlights: This year’s Grade 1 Preakness champ for local connections was subsequently sold but still aims to headline this year’s Haskell field. Perennial Monmouth Park leading rider Paco Lopez won his first Triple Crown race in that Preakness and now will look to add his first Haskell.Career Highlights: Has yet to cross the wire first in a race but has amassed over $800,000 in career earnings by finished third in both the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 2 Wood Memorial, fourth in the Grade 1 Preakness, and most-recently second in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby.Career Highlights: Broke his maiden at first asking in September of 2025 and has worked his way up the ranks – boasting a second-place finish in the Long Branch Stakes back in May.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCareer Highlights: Was a “buzz” horse entering the Kentucky Derby until he was withdrawn. Spent his winter battling the best in South Florida with a Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby winner and Grade 1 Florida Derby runner-up finish to his credit. Goes out for the same connections who ran second in the 2023 Haskell with Mage.2026 Kentucky Derby horse The Puma stands outside his barn with walker Brian Fitzgerald after morning training at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. April 24, 2026The live draw will determine which positions each horse will start in. Depending on the position, trainers and jockeys may change their strategy since each spot has its advantage and disadvantages. Most would say posts 3-6 are better, which are in the middle but close to the rail, making it unlikely that the horse will be in traffic while having the opportunity to save ground.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdv
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