ESPN Search

Four months ago, owner Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher were probably fairly confident they'd have the the favorite for the Travers. They just never would have believed it might be Stay Thirsty.

Lane Gold previews Sunday's Haskell Invitational, in which Belmont winner Ruler On Ice and Preakness winner Shackleford face off. He also offers a short preview of the Jim Dandy Stakes.

Story | Conversation | July 30, 2011

While Shackleford and Ruler On Ice battle for divisional supremacy in Sunday's Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, seven lesser accomplished but not necessarily inferior 3-year-olds will clash in Saturday's $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.

Entering Saturday's $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes, trainer Tony Dutrow was confident that A Little Warm would run as good as he possibly could in the Grade 2 race. He wasn't sure if it would be good enough to win.

After winning the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park on June 19, it seemed likely that Afleet Express would make his next start in the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Aug. 1 at the Jersey Shore track.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said that Afleet Express came out of his victory in last Saturday's Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park in good order.

It remains to be seen if Rachel Alexandra will run in the $1 million Shadwell Travers here on Aug. 29, but it is becoming increasingly likely that her owner, Jess Jackson, and trainer, Steve Asmussen, will be in the race regardless.

Munnings is going to beat Rachel Alexandra.

Call the racing industry whatever you want, but please stop using the "D" word: dead.

Though Charitable Man failed to live up to expectations in the Belmont Stakes, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin hasn't lost any faith in his 3-year-old colt.

Trainer Tim Ice has adjusted the training schedule of Summer Bird, canceling a workout that had been planned for Saturday at Louisiana Downs in favor of giving the horse a little more time to regroup from his win in the Belmont Stakes on June 6.

The first four finishers from Saturday's 141st Belmont Stakes all came out of the race well, all will get a bit of a breather before returning later this summer.

Macho Again outgamed 3-2 favorite Pyro to register a half-length victory in Sunday's Grade 2 Jim Dandy before a crowd of 38,748 at Saratoga.

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense began his second season with a first-rate performance, pulling away in the stretch and winning the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course.

The second half of Street Sense's 3-year-old campaign will begin in Sunday's Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.

Behind Bernardini is a gap that Bluegrass Cat or Strong Contender could close with a victory Sunday in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.