Haskell Stakes Morning Line Odds and Betting Tips

There are a few scores to be settled here at Monmouth Park on August 2nd as the 2010 Haskell Stakes has eight very competitive runners set to go.

The race will be broadcast live on ABC Television in the United States, and this race basically serves as a post-script to the Triple Crown trail.

Here is the field for the 2010 Haskell Stakes:

1. Lookin at Lucky 5-2
2. Afleet Again 12-1
3. Ice Box 9-2
4. First Dude 6-1
5. Our Dark Knight 15-1
6. Super Saver 3-1
7. Uptowncharlybrown 15-1
8. Trappe Shot 3-1

Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike) has once again drawn the rail, but in a smaller field he has a lot more options. He didn’t get the right type of trip in what turned out to be a very tough Kentucky Derby, but went all out to capture the Preakness when sent out of the gate at Pimlico with a 12/5 price tag.

The switch to Garcia paid dividends that day and it will be interesting to see how Bob Baffert’s charge handles this crowd of tactical speedsters.

The big variable here is going to be Trappe Shot (Tapit) who has taken four straight since coming off the maiden special weight circuit at Gulfstream. This is the definition of a late bloomer and he’s got a very solid 105 Beyer to his credit from a 7f Allowance on the Belmont Stakes undercard. Kiaran McLaughlin’s colt is likely headed for the Breeders, barring injury, and his ability to dig deep has paid big dividends so far. Very dangerous, but the 8 stall means he may have to go up front early.

Todd Pletcher’s Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria’s Mon) returns to the fold after a disappointing 8th place in the Preakness. It goes without saying that Pletcher has him pointed at the Travers, and a nice performance here would see him line up at Saratoga.

The likes of Lookin at Lucky and Ice Box (Pulpit) were undone by nightmare trips, Ice Box in particular who should have won that race. Super Saver is beatable in this race, and folks will retreat off of him on race day.

You might want to lay off Ice Box if conditions are sloppy on the day, but things look to be nice and dry for the 2010 Haskell this year. We haven’t seen the bottom of Ice Box yet, and Nick Zito will have him tuned up a bit extra for this one. He’s had a nice long time to rest, and there could be a bit of early speed with Trappe Shot likely going up front early on it may draw another contender or two into a pace duel. The more early speed the better as Ice Box is a classic closer. I’m all over Zito’s charge here and a big victory here could propel him to the status that I feel he most certainly deserves.

Stay tuned to Betting Choice for even more coverage and previews of the 2010 Haskell at Monmouth Park!