Beckman confirms Ocelli for Haskell

The maiden Ocelli, third in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Ohio Derby, will run in the Haskell, trainer Whit Beckman said Thursday.

In weighing his options, Beckman said the Haskell made some sense because he thinks it has the potential to be a bigger field and a truer-run race than either the Jim Dandy or Curlin Stakes at Saratoga.

In addition, Beckman said the timing of the Haskell works in that it’s six weeks out from the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 29 at Saratoga.

“He’s run well shipping to different tracks, he’s run well against all these horses before,” Beckman said. “He was competitive against Napoleon Solo and Iron Honor on a pretty biased track.”

Beckman was referring to Ocelli’s fourth-place finish in the Preakness at Laurel, which came two weeks after his third-place finish behind Golden Tempo and Renegade in the Kentucky Derby.

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Ocelli worked a half-mile in 49.20 seconds last Saturday at Churchill and will work this Saturday at Churchill before shipping to Monmouth on Monday.