Bayern, with Martin Garcia in the saddle, begins to pull away from the field in the homestretch of the $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational on July 27 at Monmouth Park. It was another big day for trainer Bob Baffert, who added to his Haskell record victory total with his seventh win. Thoroughbred race trainer Bob Baffert seldom plays the role of spoiler. That’s especially true at the William Hill Haskell Invitational, a race his mounts have won a record six times.
This year’s edition of the $1 million Haskell, Monmouth Park’s crown jewel event held on July 27, was supposed to belong to undefeated Untapable, the top filly in the country. This would be her first race against the boys, and it was expected to be her coronation as perhaps the best 3-yearold in the country.
Someone forgot to tell Baffert, his jockey, Martin Garcia, and, of course, their mount, Bayern.
Putting on a breathtaking performance, Bayern ran off with this year’s Haskell, going wire-to-wire and winning by 7 1/4 lengths in 1:47 4/5, one of the fastest times in the 47 years of the Haskell. Bayern removed any doubt about whether he was just a sprinter unable to race more than a mile (the Haskell is 1 1/8-miles) or a distance horse. He also threw his hat into the ring as one of this year’s best 3-year-olds.
“He showed what he can do,” said Garcia, who tied Craig Perret for the most Haskell wins by a jockey with his third victory. “He can go the distance.
“It looks like he has it all together,” Baffert said of Bayern on a conference call from California. “He’s maturing and getting better.”
Baffert pointed out that in past races, “We tried to slow him down, but now we know we just have to utilize his speed.”
Starting from post-position two, Martin took Bayern straight to the front and never looked back. Getting to the front was the only game plan for Bayern.
“I told Martin there is no Plan B today,” Baffert said. “The break was very important. He had to get away.”
Bayern did just that, running the first quarter in :23 4/5 and the half in :47 3/5. Once in the lead, Garcia remarked that he “wasn’t worried about anybody. I had a very good horse. I was pretty confident.”
In the stretch, when it could be expected for the horse to fade after being out front from the start, Bayern increased his lead, with Albano, who had been chasing all race, holding on for second and Wild Red taking third.
Garcia said when he turned for home, Bayern “took off.”
Untapable, which had won all four of her starts by a combined 31 lengths, did not get out of the gate well and was never really a factor in the race, finishing fifth.
Bayern, who was un-raced as a 2-year-old, won for the fourth time in seven career races. His $600,000 share of the $1 million purse pushed his earnings to more than $1 million.
Baffert’s seventh Haskell win separates him further from the competition. Three trainers — Warren A. Corll Jr., Huber “Sonny” Hine and Todd Pletcher — have three Haskell wins.
Although he didn’t make it to this year’s race, Monmouth Park is one of Baffert’s favorite tracks.
“They do a great job there,” he said. “You never have to worry about anything. You’re treated great. I’m a big fan of Monmouth Park.”
Baffert is also a fan of owner Kaleem Shah.
“I’m so happy for Kaleem,” Baffert said. “He loves horses, and he just loves the game. That’s why you work hard.”
Shah, a native of India, named his colt after the German soccer team, Bayern Munich.
“I have a passion about soccer,” he said. “Bayern Munich is a dominant team in soccer.”
On July 27, it was Shah’s horse that was dominating. Besides the nice payday, Bayern qualified for the Breeder’s Crown with his win.
In other big races on the Haskell card, Majestic River and Rose Napravnik won the 69th running of the $200,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes.
The $200,000 Monmouth Cup went to Valid, with Orlando Bocachica up.