The sportsbook odds for Sunday’s 43rd edition of the Haskell Invitational could be the best ever for the race at Monmouth Park. The field for the Haskell looks like the field for a Breeders’ Cup race. Odds at the offshore sportsbook should be very competitive with Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky in the race.
Sportsbook odds for the Haskell are also expected to include Preakness runner-up First Dude and Florida Derby winner Ice Box. The $1 million dollar Grade 1 race will be televised live by ABC and is expected to have a field of eight. Also in the race are Trappe Shot, who won the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth, Our Dark Knight, Uptowncharlybrown and Afleet Again.
Lookin at Lucky trainer Bob Baffert is excited to be at Monmouth Park. He has said that Lookin at Lucky looks great coming into Sunday’s race. Baffert has won the Haskell three times and Lookin at Lucky could go off as the favorite at the offshore sportsbook. Baffert said that he believes this is the toughest Haskell field he has ever faced.
Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver will almost assuredly not be the favorite in Sunday’s Haskell. The horse has not run since flopping in the Preakness. Trainer Todd Pletcher said that Super Saver is fresh now and set for a big effort. Pletcher said that one of his recent works was the best he had seen for Super Saver.
Since Super Saver won the Derby and Lookin at Lucky won the Preakness, Sunday’s race is the tiebreaker. It is possible that neither horse will win though as the Haskell is loaded with talent. First Dude is very capable of winning and it seems everyone really likes Trappe Shot. Even though the field is strong, Lookin at Lucky trainer Bob Baffert was pleased because he believes that his horse needs the competition. Baffert is just worried about the trip. Lookin at Lucky has been known to get into trouble but Martin Garcia did a great job in the Preakness and perhaps the bad trips are behind Lookin at Lucky.
What is definitely not in debate is that Sunday’s Haskell could be one of the best in the history of the Monmouth Park’s showcase race.