Cyberknife, Home Brew could give Cox a pair for Haskell
Cyberknife remains on track for the $1 million Haskell Stakes on July 23 at Monmouth Park, while his Brad Cox-trained stablemate Home Brew remains a possible starter in the 1 1/8-mile fixture for 3-year-olds.
Monmouth on Thursday released a list of 19 Haskell nominees. The Cox pair were among them, as were two horses trained by Bob Baffert, who has won nine Haskells and earlier this week returned to training following a 90-day suspension. Taiba, 12th in the Kentucky Derby when trained by Tim Yakteen, has worked six times since the Derby, including a six-furlong drill in 1:12 on Thursday at Santa Anita. Baffert’s other Haskell nominee is the less talented colt Pinehurst.
Jack Christopher, dazzling winner of the Woody Stephens at Belmont in his most recent start, remains on course to make his two-turn debut in the Haskell, Chad Brown said in a Thursday text message. Brown also nominated Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting, who also is under consideration for the Jim Dandy at Saratoga. Brown said Thursday no decision had yet been made on Early Voting’s next race. Brown’s third Haskell nominee, Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Zandon, is expected to start in the Jim Dandy.
Cox, via Hot Rod Charlie’s disqualification, won the 2021 Haskell with Mandaloun and will have at least one runner this year in Cyberknife. Cyberknife won the Arkansas Derby before finishing 18th in the Kentucky Derby and rebounding with a narrow victory June 12 at Churchill Downs in the Matt Winn Stakes.
Cyberknife has twice worked since the Matt Winn, including a five-furlong drill July 2, and will breeze again this weekend. So, too, will Home Brew, who easily ran the best race of his career winning the Pegasus, Monmouth’s Haskell prep, by more than six lengths, a performance that produced a 97 Beyer Speed Figure, higher than Cyberknife’s top number, a 94. Home Brew also is on a regular work pattern and will breeze this weekend, with connections, Cox said, still deciding between the Haskell and the West Virginia Derby on Aug. 6.
Meanwhile, trainer Todd Pletcher said via text Wednesday that Green Up, easy winner of the Boiling Springs, her stakes debut, on July 3 at Monmouth would target the Monmouth Oaks on July 31. Green Up, who got an 89 Beyer in the slow-paced Boiling Springs, her first two-turn start, has won all three of her races since being purchased by Team Valor International and turned over to Pletcher.