Any Given Saturday wins Haskell

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Any Given Saturday rallied for an emphatic 4 1/2-length victory Sunday over Hard Spun and Preakness winner Curlin in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

Garrett Gomez saluted the crowd of 43,106 with a jubilant whip pump as Any Given Saturday ($5.60) earned his first Grade 1 victory and raised his profile within the 3-year-old division.

The decisive margin and the quality of the field was a powerful statement by an emerging star.

"You have to use Curlin and Hard Spun as the guideline as to how you gauge this race," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "If you take the Preakness winner and the runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and you beat them convincingly, it's pretty logical to think that this horse is as good as any 3-year-old in the crop."

Any Given Saturday had hinted at greatness in the past. He lost by only a nose to eventual Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in the Tampa Bay Derby. He was a dominant winner in his previous race, reversing a Wood Memorial loss to Nobiz Like Shobiz in the Grade 2 Dwyer.

He was eighth in the Kentucky Derby, an effort Pletcher blamed on a deep foot bruise suffered in the race.

It was the second straight Haskell win for Pletcher and Winstar Farm following last year's victory with Bluegrass Cat.

It was a 1-3 finish for Satish Sanan's Padua Stable, which owns a share of Any Given Saturday and Curlin.

The Haskell unfolded as expected in the early stages. Cable Boy, unbeaten in three previous races at Monmouth, set the pace with Hard Spun tracking in second. Any Given Saturday had the rail and used that inside position to secure a ground-saving trip while Curlin got away fifth.

Hard Spun passed Cable Boy and grabbed the lead approaching the quarter pole, while Any Given Saturday eased off the fence to the inside of Curlin, who was making his bid.

Seeing daylight, Any Given Saturday eagerly kicked into gear and took charge a furlong from the finish.

Hard Spun held second by a head over Curlin, who did not have his customary kick in the lane.

"He ran the worst race of his career and we have to find out why," said Steve Asmussen, Curlin's trainer.

Just as in the Kentucky Derby, Imawildandcrazyguy was fourth followed by Cable Boy, Xchanger, and Reata's Shadow.

The time was 1:48.35 for the 1 1/8 miles on the fast track.

Pletcher would not commit to the next start for Any Given Saturday, saying the only long-range target was a return to Monmouth Park for the Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 28.

Silent Roar takes Oceanport

Silent Roar ($12.20) rallied to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Oceanport in a course-record performance over 1 1/16 miles of turf. The time was 1:38.99, erasing the mark of 1:40.06 set by Three Valleys in last year's Oceanport.

The 4-year-old gelding beat Kiss the Kid by one length with Kip Deville, the 6-5 favorite, third.

It was the biggest win in Silent Roar's 10-race career. He got a patient ride from Stewart Elliott, settling sixth in the early stages before angling out on the turn. Silent Roar continued the move down the center of the course to log his fifth career win.

"You just don't know which horse will show up, the aggressive type or the one that wants to lay back," trainer Michael Moran said. "Stewart knows this horse and did everything right."

Roshani gets first stakes

Pletcher had a second graded winner on the card as the improving Roshani earned her first stakes victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker, rallying for a one-length victory over Trick's Pic with the pacesetting Humoristic third.

Roshani is now 4 for 7 and the 4-year-old appears destined for bigger stakes down the road.

"The crew here has done a great job with her," Pletcher said of his Monmouth division. "She's a push-button filly to train and ride. We've been very high on her and she went through her conditions pretty quickly. Maybe we can take it up a notch."

* Oprah Winney ($3.20) posted a front-running victory in the $100,000 Regret for filly and mares.

Edgar Prado was aboard for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. as the gray 4-year-old, who had finished in the money in three consecutive graded stakes, beat Sweet Fervor by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:09.35 for the six furlongs.

Pure Disco dumped Daniel Centeno at the break. The filly ran off and Centeno, after missing one mount, returned later in the card.

* Prop Me Up ($3.80), with Joe Bravo aboard for trainer Greg Sacco, rallied to win the $100,000 Ladys Secret for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles.

* Buddy's Humor ($3.60) fended off a strong challenge from Chaluiwitcane to win the $100,000 Jersey Derby for 3-year-olds on the turf. Gomez was aboard as trainer Bruce Levine got his third win on the card.

* Fagedaboudit Sal ($9.60) rolled to a pacesetting win in the $65,000 Lincroft Handicap for New Jersey-breds.