Haskell Invitational Marks Big Brown Return
POSTED: 12:10 pm CDT July 31,
2008
Oceanport, NJ -- (Sports Network) - Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown has been installed as the 1-2 morning-line favorite for Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. The 41st Haskell will be conducted over 1 1/8 miles with seven starters.Owned by IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr., Big Brown lost his Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 when he was eased down the stretch. The colt, trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr., has won five of six career starts for better than $2.6 million. "He could be better than the Big Brown leading up to the Kentucky Derby," said co-owner Michael Iavarone. "We are very excited to see him come into the race the right way. We could not be happier with the way he is doing." Returning to ride Big Brown is Kent Desormeaux who received a lot of criticism for his ride in the Belmont Stakes. The pair will break from post four. Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out Atoned in an attempt to win his third straight Haskell. Pletcher won the race last year with Any Given Saturday and in 2006 with Bluegrass Cat. Atoned will be ridden by Jose Lezcano from the outside post and is the third choice at 6-1. In his last start, Atoned was second in Monmouth Park's Long Branch Stakes to Truth Rules. The colt has won twice in 12 lifetime starts with seven runner-up finishes. "It's amazing that he's run as well as he has and finished second as many times as he has," Pletcher said. "And he's been second a variety of ways. He's gone to the front too soon at times, and then been too late other times. He's shown hints of moving forward in his races, but he's been kind of a bridesmaid" Two horses from the stable of owner Robert LaPenta and trainer Nick Zito will grace the field for the Haskell. Cool Coal Man and Coal Play have drawn posts two and six, respectively. The stable's Belmont Stakes winner Da' Tara finished last in the Jim Dandy Stakes last week at Saratoga. Cool Coal Man will have Eddie Castro in the saddle and is the 4-1 second pick in the program. Coal Play is 8-1 with local hero Joe Bravo getting the ride. Here the complete Haskell field in post-position order: Magical Forest, Jorge Chavez 10-1; Cool Coal Man, Eddie Castro 4-1; Alaazo, Jose Lezcano 30-1; Big Brown, Kent Desormeaux 1-2; Nistles Crunch, Elvis Trujillo 15-1; Coal Play, Joe Bravo 8-1 and Atoned, Edgar Prado 6-1 The Haskell will be shown live on ESPN Classic and ESPN News beginning at 6 p.m. (et).
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.






