Haskell: Untapable draws post 7, starts at 2-1

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Officially, Saturday is Ladies’ Day at Monmouth Park, but many in attendance on Sunday will be looking for the festivities to carry over in spirit to that day when Rosie Napravnik will be reunited with the nation’s top 3-year-old filly, Untapable, in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational.

Post positions for the $1 million Haskell were drawn Thursday, with Untapable getting post 7 in the nine-horse field and being established as the 2-1 morning-line favorite by oddsmaker Brad Thomas. Napravnik is 5 for 6 on Untapable but had to miss the Kentucky Oaks winner’s most recent start, a 9 1/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Mother Goose, when she was rehabbing an injured shoulder.

“Rosie and Untapable have had a lot of success together,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “They get along very well.”

Untapable, owned by Ron Winchell, will receive a five-pound sex allowance and carry 115 in the 1 1/8-mile Haskell. Her rivals all will carry 118 pounds under the allowance conditions of the race.

Only two fillies have won the Haskell since it was first run in 1968: Hall of Famer Serena’s Song, for D. Wayne Lukas in 1995, and Hall of Famer-to-be Rachel Alexandra, for Asmussen in 2009.

:: Haskell Invitational: Get PPs, watch Sunday's card live

Shipping in to take on Untapable are Albano, to be ridden by Kerwin Clark; Bayern, Martin Garcia; Medal Count, Robby Albarado; Social Inclusion, Edgar Prado; and Wildcat Red, Luis Saez.

The Monmouth Park-based home team is comprised of the top three finishers from the Long Branch Stakes: Irish You Well, Jose Lezcano; Just Call Kenny, Joe Bravo; and Encryption, Monmouth’s runaway leading rider Paco Lopez.

** Bayern will be trainer Bob Baffert’s Haskell starter. Baffert has won the Haskell a record six times, including three straight from 2010-12. Todd Pletcher and the late trainers Sonny Hine and Jimmy Croll are second with three Haskell wins each.

Bayern comes into the Haskell off a 7 1/2-length win in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at seven furlongs. The 107 Beyer Speed Figure he earned is tied for third-highest by a 3-year-old this year. Bayern has yet to win beyond a mile, however. He will start from post 2 and is the 5-2 second choice.

“We’re going to give him one more try going two turns and see if he can handle it,” Baffert said. “We are looking at the King’s Bishop after this.”

The seven-furlong King’s Bishop will be run Aug. 23 at Saratoga.

**Albano got back on track for trainer Larry Jones with a 6 1/2-length win in the Grade 3 Pegasus, the main local prep for the Haskell. He is the third choice at 6-1 and drew post 3.

** Medal Count comes into the Haskell off an excellent third in the Belmont Stakes for trainer Dale Romans. He is 8-1 on the line and will start from the outside gate.

** After starting his career with two galloping wins, Social Inclusion has finished third in his last three: the Grade 1 Wood Memorial, Preakness Stakes, and Woody Stephens. Trained by Manny Azpurua, he is 8-1 and has post 6.

** Wildcat Red has won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and Grade 3 Hutcheson and missed by a neck to Constitution in the Florida Derby this year for trainer Jose Garoffalo. He is 10-1 and will start from post 8.

** Irish You Well (12-1) has post 4 for trainer Wayne Catalano, who currently is hospitalized with pneumonia near Arlington Park; Just Call Kenny (10-1) is in post 5 for Patrick McBurney; and Encryption (20-1) drew post 1 for Kelly Breen.