Haskell Stakes Showdown Looms: Preakness Hero Napoleon Solo Leads Deep Field of Triple Crown Veterans

The $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1), Monmouth Park’s signature summer event on the Jersey Shore, is one week away and promises a showdown featuring several prominent 3-year-olds from the Triple Crown trail.

Leading the expected field is Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Napoleon Solo, who bypassed both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) to target the 1 1/8-mile test on Saturday, July 18. The race holds special significance for the colt’s former owner, Al Gold, a New Jersey native and lifelong Monmouth Park patron who captured the 2022 Haskell with Cyberknife at 7-1 odds. Weeks after the Preakness victory, Gold sold the colt—originally purchased for $40,000—to ESPOIR USA in a reported multimillion-dollar transaction. Trainer Chad Summers retains the conditioning reins.

Napoleon Solo faces a formidable collection of rivals. Iron Honor, the Preakness runner-up trained by Chad Brown, seeks redemption after finishing 1 1/4 lengths back in Baltimore. Further Ado, the Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite who finished 11th in the Run for the Roses, rebounded with a decisive victory in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on June 7. Ocelli arrives winless in nine starts but boasts a close third in the Derby and a fourth-place finish in the Preakness. The Puma, scratched on Derby morning due to a swollen leg stemming from a skin infection, was the morning-line favorite for the Run for the Roses and has not raced since a nose defeat in the Florida Derby (G1) on March 27.

Rounding out the probable contenders are Baby Vino and Big Cuddle. Baby Vino, trained by Lindsay Schultz, earned a “Win and You’re In” berth with a 10 3/4-length romp in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth on June 13, just six weeks after breaking his maiden at fifth asking. Big Cuddle, a Maryland-bred conditioned by Gary Capuano, has won four of five starts, including the Sir Barton Stakes on Preakness Day and the Delaware Derby on June 13. Post positions will be drawn Tuesday at noon ET.

Baffert Absent from Haskell for First Time in Years

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, holder of a record nine Haskell victories, will not saddle a starter this year. Crude Velocity, winner of the Pat Day Mile (G2) on Derby Day, was not nominated after missing a recent workout. Baffert’s Haskell legacy is profound: three of his winners—American Pharoah (2015), Bayern (2014), and Authentic (2020)—went on to capture the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in their 3-year-old campaigns.

A Summer Launchpad for Champions

The Haskell has long served as a springboard for Eclipse Award winners. The roll of honor includes 3-year-old male champions Wajima (1975), Holy Bull (1994), Skip Away (1996), Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002), Big Brown (2008), Lookin At Lucky (2010), American Pharoah (2015), and Authentic (2020). Fillies Serena’s Song (1995) and Rachel Alexandra (2009) also earned Eclipse honors during their 3-year-old seasons, with Rachel Alexandra, Holy Bull, Point Given, American Pharoah, and Authentic ultimately claiming Horse of the Year titles.

Haskell Stakes Contender Profiles:

• Further Ado: Trained by Brad Cox, the Gun Runner colt announced his talent with a 20-length maiden victory and an 11-length Blue Grass Stakes (G1) romp at Keeneland in 2025. A troubled trip led to an 11th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on May 2. He returned to win the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) on June 7 under Irad Ortiz Jr. and could enter as the early favorite.
• Napoleon Solo: The Liam’s Map colt captured the Preakness under Paco Lopez, who is currently appealing a 30-day suspension from the New York Racing Association for “gross careless riding” following a four-horse spill at Saratoga. As a 2-year-old, Napoleon Solo won the Champagne Stakes (G1) before finishing fifth in both the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G3) and Wood Memorial (G2).
• The Puma: The Essential Quality colt has been sidelined since a nose loss to Commandment in the Florida Derby (G1) on March 27. The morning-line Derby favorite was scratched hours before the race due to a swollen leg caused by a skin infection. His lone stakes win came in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 7. Gustavo Delgado trains.
• Iron Honor: Chad Brown conditions this Nyquist colt, who won his first two starts at Aqueduct before capturing the Gotham Stakes (G3). A troubled seventh in the Wood Memorial prompted a Derby bypass; he returned to run second in the Preakness, 1 1/4 lengths behind Napoleon Solo.
• Ocelli: Trained by Whit Beckman, the Connect colt remains a maiden after nine starts, including six consecutive stakes attempts. Yet his form is compelling: third in the Wood Memorial, a close third in the Kentucky Derby after leading briefly, fourth in the Preakness, and second in the Ohio Derby (G3).
• Baby Vino: A son of Vino Rosso trained by Lindsay Schultz, Baby Vino broke his maiden at fifth asking, shipped to Monmouth, and dominated the Pegasus Stakes by nearly 11 lengths to secure automatic entry.
• Big Cuddle: The Great Notion colt, conditioned by Gary Capuano, boasts a 4-for-5 record. The Maryland-bred added the Sir Barton Stakes on Preakness Day and the Delaware Derby on June 13 to his resume.

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