Contenders line up for Haskell despite Untapable's presence

OCEANPORT, N.J. – The decision by owner-breeder Ron Winchell and trainer Steve Asmussen to run Untapable against males in the Haskell Invitational assures a packed grandstand on Monmouth Park’s biggest day of the year next Sunday. Despite Untapable’s presence, a good-sized crowd also is expected in the starting gate.

As of Wednesday, eight colts were preparing to take on the nation’s leading 3-year-old filly at 1 1/8 miles. Her main challenger figures to be Bayern, the winner of the Woody Stephens with a 107 Beyer Speed Figure for Bob Baffert.

The other expected starters are Albano, the 6 1/2-length winner of the Pegasus Stakes for Larry Jones; Wildcat Red, the Fountain of Youth winner and Florida Derby runner-up, who has arrived at Monmouth from Florida; Social Inclusion, who was expected to work Thursday in Florida; Medal Count, the third-place finisher in the Belmont Stakes; and Irish You Well, Just Call Kenny, and Encryption, the top three from the July 5 Long Branch Stakes.

Although the Long Branch trio will be among the longer prices in the Haskell, they exit a solid race. Irish You Well earned a 98 Beyer, while winning his second straight over the local surface. Just Call Kenny, who was given a 97, was making his first start since winning the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park six months ago. The Long Branch was his first start around two turns, and he came running for trainer Patrick McBurney to miss by a half-length.

McBurney is playing a bit of catch-up with Just Call Kenny, who came out of the Spectacular Bid with a condylar fracture in his right foreleg that necessitated surgery and two screws being inserted. Fortunately, McBurney and his crew detected the fracture while it was small and before it became a more serious problem.

Despite there being only 22 days between the Long Branch and the Haskell, McBurney plans to work Just Call Kenny three times. He breezed him six furlongs in 1:16.80 last Sunday and will work him again this weekend and probably next Wednesday, too.

“He’s only had the one race, and he is going into the biggest race of his life,” McBurney said. “The work last Sunday was really a gallop with a good finish. I may send him five furlongs and let him go out seven this weekend, and then do a little something with him Wednesday. I’m being careful not to take anything out of him.”

** William Hill, the British bookmaking firm and title sponsor of the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell, has released its betting line on the race, setting Untapable as the 9-5 favorite.

** Trainer Kelly Breen was a bit hesitant to commit Encryption to the Haskell when initially invited the day after the Long Branch, but on Wednesday, he said he planned to enter Encryption in the Haskell and that he was being pointed to the race.

Breen also said Lady Paradime, fourth-place finisher July 5 in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks, could make her next start Aug. 9 in the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks.

“We’ll see how the race comes up,” Breen said.