Haskell undercard loaded

The $1 million Haskell headlines the Sunday racing at Monmouth Park, but if you're looking for established Grade 1 winners, you'll have to look at the undercard.

My Trusty Cat, who captured the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill in May, and Wildcat Heir, winner of the 2004 Grade 1 De Francis Dash, will run in supporting stakes on the 14-race card. In all, there are seven stakes on the undercard. Post time for the opener is noon.

The $100,000 Regret Stakes, at six furlongs on the main track, drew a field of 10 fillies and mares, including My Trusty Cat, who figures to be perfectly positioned behind lively fractions. The pace scenario will involve Clay's Rocket, who earlier in the meet set a sub-21-second first-quarter fraction, and the streaking Pretty Imposing, who has won three in a row against cheaper since returning from a long layoff.

If these two engage in a duel from the start, as expected, they'll have a tough time staving off My Trusty Cat, as well as Souris, a multiple stakes-winning sprinter who has 12 wins in 35 career starts. Travelator, who comes off a win in the West Long Branch Stakes over this strip, is the horse for course, having scored in 3 of 4 starts at Monmouth. She also stands to benefit from the expected race flow.

Ebony Breeze was entered in the Regret, but she ran Friday at Saratoga in the Honorable Miss, finishing second.

Wildcat Heir hasn't raced since November, when he won the De Francis Dash. Wildcat Heir has been working very well for his return and looms the one to beat in the $100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes despite the layoff. Canadian shipper Judiths Wild Rush is in good form and is the main threat in the six-furlong race.

Like My Trusty Cat in the Regret, Wildcat Heir figures to benefit from a fast, contested pace in the Teddy Drone, since Toscani and War's Prospect seem intent on the lead. That scenario, however, would also favor Judiths Wild Rush, whose most recent Beyer Speed Figure of 109 proves he is fast enough to win this on his best. Judiths Wild Rush will be ridden by regular rider Slade Callaghan. Stewart Elliott, who was aboard Wildcat Heir for his De Francis score, will be back to ride Sunday.

The $100,000 Lamplighter Handicap features a rematch of Touched by Madness and Spring House, who ran one-two in Delaware's Kent Breeders' Cup Stakes before both were disqualified after a lengthy inquiry for interference in a roughly run stretch drive. Touched by Madness was on the lead from the start in the Kent, and he is the one to catch once again in the Lamplighter, which will be run at one mile on the turf. Frankie Pennington is back aboard Touched by Madness and Gary Stevens, who rode Spring House to a sixth-place finish in the Virginia Derby, retains the mount.

The Lady's Secret, to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, is a wide-open event. La Reason, winner of the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher over this track in 2004, failed to defend her title last month, and Silmaril faded after a middle move in the 1 1/4-mile Delaware Handicap last time, but both figure to rebound in the Lady's Secret. Taittinger Rose hasn't raced since winning the Pennsylvania Oaks last September, but her best Beyers put her in the mix as well. City Fire and Habiboo are the main speeds in the race. Given modest early splits, either could win the Lady's Secret via a forward trip.

New Jersey-breds will contest the Lincroft, with Upturn the likely favorite on the strength of his most recent Beyers. The race also features Trueamericanspirit, who won the 2004 Lincroft, as well as Toorizziforoy, the likely pacesetter who has won 2 of his last 3 starts.

Aaron Gryder picks up the mount on Upturn in place of regular rider Joe Bravo, who is sidelined with a broken collarbone.