The $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) on Saturday (July 20) at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey, is the first major race for 3-year-olds following the Triple Crown. usracing.com is publishing profiles on the contenders.
Yes, he was 2-for-2 by a combined 20½ lengths going into the Belmont Stakes, but the consensus was it would be too much too soon for Mindframe. That was the conventional wisdom, but the lightly raced colt proved those two words didn’t belong together.
Had Mindframe not shied from Irad Ortiz Jr.’s left-handed whip and veered out erratically in mid-stretch, he probably would have won “the Test of the Champion” in his stakes debut. He lost by only half a length to the far more experienced Dornoch, who debuted last July, eight months before Mindframe.
The son of Constitution worked a leisurely half mile in 49.49 seconds July 13 at Saratoga prepping for the 1 1/8-mile Haskell.
“He looked like he was just galloping and couldn’t have done it any easier,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.
Mindframe showed he was the real deal in the 1¼-mile Belmont, and it looks like he has a big future. Turning back to 9 furlongs should help, but then again, he could bounce dramatically off a very taxing race. If he doesn’t, he should be very tough to beat.
Post position: 7
Odds: 9-5
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owners: Repole Stable, St. Elias Stables
Career record: 3-2-1-0
Career earnings: $447,360
Last race: Belmont Stakes, June 8 (2nd)
Top Equibase speed figure: 108
Pedigree: Constitution-Walk of Stars, by Street Sense
Color: Dark bay
Running style: Speed/stalker
Notes: Pletcher hasn’t won the Haskell since 2013, when the speedy Verrazano gave him his third victory in Monmouth’s signature race … Bob Baffert, who has a record nine Haskell trophies, isn’t in it this year. His last win came with eventual Horse of the Year Authentic in 2020 … The Haskell, first run in 1968, is named for Amory Haskell (1893-1966), a former president and chairman at the Jersey Shore track.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
