WinStar Farm will try to win the $1 million Haskell Invitational (G1) for third time in seven years this Sunday at Monmouth Park when it sends out Grade 1 winner Gemologist.
Elliott Walden, President/CEO & Racing Manager at WinStar, confirmed Wednesday morning that Gemologist will skip the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga in favor of the Haskell. WinStar won the Haskell in 2006 with Bluegrass Cat, and again in 2007 with Any Given Saturday.
Gemologist bruised a foot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in his last start, but the grand-looking son of Tiznow was a perfect 5-for-5 prior to that, which included a win in the Wood Memorial (G1) in April. He has trained well in New York since returning from a brief recovery period at WinStar Farm in Versailles, which has prompted WinStar and trainer Todd Pletcher to run in the Haskell. Entries and post positions will be drawn on Thursday.
Gemologist is one of nine Grade 1 winners by two-time Horse of the Year Tiznow, who remains the only horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) twice. Tiznow stood the 2012 season at WinStar Farm for a fee of $75,000.
