Hence, Girvin bring expected Haskell field to nine

The lineup for the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational picked up both Hence and Girvin in recent days, according to Monmouth Park officials.

The prospective field for the 1 1/8-mile Haskell now stands at nine despite dropping Always Dreaming from the list of probables. The Kentucky Derby winner is expected to compete in the July 29 Jim Dandy at Saratoga the day before the Haskell.

Other recent additions to the Haskell, which is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, are Practical Joke, the impressive winner of the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park last Saturday, and Impressive Edge, who was third in the July 7 Iowa Derby.

They join a solid core that includes Belmont Stakes runner-up Irish War Cry; Classic Empire, who just missed in the Preakness; Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Battle of Midway; three-time graded stakes winner McCraken; and the undefeated Timeline.

Practical Joke and Timeline are both trained by Chad Brown.

Hence and Girvin are stabled at Saratoga. Hence, who won the Sunland Derby in March, is coming off a freakish last-to-first victory in the Iowa Derby for trainer Steve Asmussen. After dropping about a dozen lengths off the early pace in the 1 1/16-mile race under Mike Smith, he commenced a half-mile rally that carried him past the leaders by 1 1/2 lengths in the final sixteenth of a mile.

Girvin, trained by Joe Sharp, arrived at Saratoga on Thursday. Following a 13th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, he regained his best form in the $500,000 Ohio Derby, opening a clear lead in upper stretch before dropping a nose decision to Irap.

Prior to the Kentucky Derby, Girvin won the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds.