By doug mckenzie
Staff Writer
JERRY WOLKOWITZ War Emblem (No. 6) leads the field down the front stretch during Sunday’s Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in Oceanport.
They came in droves to Monmouth Park in Oceanport Sunday, expecting to see the year’s dominant 3-year-old run away with the 35th Haskell Invitational.
A crowd of 45,212 people, the second largest gathering in the track’s illustrious history, came to see the great War Emblem obliterate a diluted field in what few expected to be a close race.
And when it was done, everything went according to plan. War Emblem breezed to an easy victory after going off as a 3-10 favorite, and paid $2.60 to win, the second-lowest payoff in Haskell history. Only Holy Bull, who paid $2.40 in 1994, was a bigger favorite.
Trainer Bob Baffert got the win he interrupted his honeymoon for, and watched his prize horse strengthen its claim for horse of the year.
JERRY WOLKOWITZ A group of railbirds check out the action prior to the start of the Haskell Invitational.
"I hoped the race would be that easy," he said, following the race.
He hoped, and just about everyone knew.
There could have been a grand showdown at Monmouth Park Sunday — War Emblem against Medaglia d’Oro, trainer Bobby Frankel’s prized 3-year-old, who, instead of taking on the Haskell favorite, dominated the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Sunday.
As impressive as War Emblem was at the Haskell, Medaglia d’Oro may have outshined him, beating the field by 13 3/4 lengths. Veteran jockey Jerry Bailey rode the horse to the front of the field on the rail heading into the clubhouse turn, and it was over right then and there.
CHRIS KELLY War Emblem is all alone as he reaches the homestretch.
For Victor Espinoza, who rode War Emblem, it was a similar ride. Once the gates opened, and his horse got out clean, it was clear who was winning the Haskell. War Emblem ran the first quarter in 23 and 4/5ths, practically in cruise control. At the half-way point, War Emblem was at 47 and 1/5, and the race was over.
With the rest of the field lagging behind, Espinoza never even took out his whip.
"I never really asked him for anything," Espinoza said. "He did it very easy today."
As for the rest of the field, it was a battle for second place from the start. That race was won by Magic Weisner, who finished 3 and 1/2 lengths behind War Emblem, followed by Like A Hero.
CHRIS KELLY
Magic Weisner sat along the rail for much of the race, but was forced to the outside entering the stretch. It was then that he showed he was the second best horse in the race, passing the tiring field, with Like A Hero matching his pace to the line.
As for Puck, a horse that many people were hoping could at least make things interesting for War Emblem, the race’s start was encouraging. He broke almost as quickly as the winner, holding his rail position, while Mr. Melon followed closely in third. At the half-mile pole, jockey Cornelio Velasquez was ready to send Puck after War Emblem, but the horse took a bad step and began to fade almost immediately.
As War Emblem began to run away at the 3/4s mark, both Puck and Mr. Melon quietly dropped back, and were passed by the rest of the field.
And so as War Emblem did what was expected of him, race fans were left wondering what could have been. What if Medaglia d’Oro’s handlers had decided to take on Baffert’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner? Medaglia d’Oro’s performance at Sunday’s Jim Dandy was at the very least as impressive as Emblem’s Haskell win, and may have been a bit better.
jerry wolkowitz Jockey Victor Espinoza gives a triumphant wave to the crowd after riding War Emblem to the win at the Haskell Invitational on Sunday.
Maybe we’ll see that matchup later this month at The Travers Aug. 24 at Saratoga.
Unfortunately, the Pacific Classic is held the following day at Del Mar, which is where Baffert keeps his best horses this time of year, making it more than likely that War Emblem will race there.
But if the two horses do meet at Saratoga, it will certainly be one of the most highly anticipated showdowns of the year. Medaglia d’ Oro beat a stronger field at the Jim Dandy, and won by over 13 lengths.
War Emblem won the Haskell in what looked like a leisurely stroll around the track.
JERRY WOLKOWITZ Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza pose together following War Emblem’s wire-to-wire win.
They have both staked their claims as the top 3-year-olds in the world. Both horses’ trainers have supreme confidence in their champions’ abilities. It would be nice to see them settle it once and for all.
But few people expect that to happen this year. But then again, Sunday’s Haskell Invitational and Jim Dandy Stakes notwithstanding, how often do we get what we expect in this sport?
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