Haskell matches Preakness, Belmont Stakes winners

Bob Baffert is coming to the Jersey Shore in the role of spoiler.

Certainly, that's a change since the Hall of Fame trainer has won the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park four times in four tries with four favorites, including last year with Lookin At Lucky.

This time, the white-haired Baffert will send out the late-blooming Coil to try and spring a surprise against the likes of Preakness winner Shackleford and Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice.

``He's training as good as any horse that I've brought in, but his resume is not as strong as the others,'' Baffert said Thursday on a conference call. ``I think he's going to run a big race. We'll just have to see whether he has the class.''

The class of the eight-horse field is Shackleford, the 5-2 morning-line favorite trained by Dale Romans. Shackleford was fourth in the Derby, held off Derby winner Animal Kingdom in the Preakness and ran fifth in the Belmont.

``He hasn't shown any signs of being tired,'' Romans said, adding that he gave the colt two weeks off after the Triple Crown races . ``He came out of his little vacation eager to train and his last two works were all on his own and he went around there as good as he's ever gone.''

Coil is far from a long shot, even if he didn't run in any Triple Crown races. The son of Point Given is the 3-1 second choice with three wins and a narrow loss in the Swaps Stakes in his last four starts. The chestnut colt drew the No. 1 post, and will be ridden by Martin Garcia.

``My horses always run well there (at Monmouth),'' Baffert said, referring to past Haskell winners Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002), Roman Ruler (2005) and Lookin At Lucky, all of whom won at least one Triple Crown race. ``I always bring a good one there, and that helps.''

Also entered in the 1 1/8-mile, Grade 1 race are Ruler On Ice's stablemate Pants On Fire, Joe Vann, Concealed Identity, JJ's Lucky Train and Astrology.

When the field breaks from the gate, the people's choice just might be Ruler On Ice and Pants On Fire, the ``Fire and Ice'' duo owned and trained by Jerseyites - owners George and Lori Hall and trainer Kelly Breen.

While winning his first Triple Crown race with a 24-1 shot was thrill, Breen said the pressure's really on for New Jersey's showcase race.

``It's so much easier when you're 20-1 and you're rooting opposed to having the two horses,'' he said. ``So this weekend, I'll be probably about as nervous as I've been in a long time, especially being at my home track.''

The Haskell helps kick off the second season for 3-year-olds competing for year-end honors. The other big race is Saturday's Jim Dandy at Saratoga, featuring Belmont runner-up Stay Thirsty, Dwyer winner Dominus and Peter Pan winner Alternation.

The Haskell has produced seven 3-year-old champions in the past 10 years, including 3-year-old filly champ Rachel Alexandra. Three of the horses also took Horse of the Year honors - Rachel Alexandra, Curlin and Point Given.

With Animal Kingdom sidelined the rest of the year with an injury, the 3-year-old race is up for grabs. Shackleford or Ruler on Ice could become the division leader with a win, and then it's on to the next test in the Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 27.

``I think we're all even right now,'' Romans said. ``I think Animal Kingdom is up against it if one of us goes on and wins another Grade I. I think if Ruler On Ice or our horse wins this race, then they have to be considered in the lead.''

The Haskell is a designated ``win and you're in'' event for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in November.

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The field, from the rail out: Coil (Martin Garcia, 3-1); Joe Vann (Joe Bravo, 15-1), Pants On Fire (Elvis Trujillo, 4-1); Concealed Identity (Chris DeCarlo, 12-1); Shackleford (Jesus Castenon, 5-2); Ruler On Ice (Jose Valdivia, Jr., 4-1); JJ's Lucky Train (Paco Lopez, 20-1); and Astrology (Julien Leparoux, 9-2).

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