The Haskell Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of miles on the dirt held annually in July at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The event is a signature event at Monmouth Park during their summer racing season and a major race for three-year-olds in between the U.S. Triple Crown series and the Breeders' Cup. The event currently offers a purse of US$1,000,000.

History

The inaugural running of the race was on 3 August 1968, closing day of the Monmouth Park summer meeting, as the Monmouth Invitational Handicap with a field of eleven horses. It was won by 33-1 longshot Balustrade, ridden by Canadian jockey Eric Walsh, in a time of 1:50 flat with favorite Iron Ruler finishing fourth.

In 1973, when the American Graded Stakes Committee was founded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the Monmouth Invitational Handicap immediately was given the highest classification of Grade I.

In the 1976, Majestic Light set a track record of 1:47 flat, winning by six lengths. The track record was broken by Spend A Buck in 1985. In 1987, Belmont Stakes winner Bet Twice won and equaled the stakes mark.

In 1981, the board of directors of Monmouth Park Racetrack switched the name of the Amory L. Haskell Handicap with this event, giving it the name Haskell Invitational Handicap. Amory L. Haskell (1893–1966) was the former president and chair of Monmouth Park.

In 1997, the purse for the race was increased to $1,000,000 and has remained at that level with two exceptions. In 2006, the race was changed from a handicap to allowance weight conditions, and the name was modified to the Haskell Invitational Stakes. In 2002, the purse was increased to $1,500,000 due to the presence of War Emblem, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. In 2015, the purse was increased to $1,750,000 as it featured American Pharoah in his first race since winning the Triple Crown. The 2015 running attracted a record New Jersey crowd of 60,983.

In 2020, the race ceased to be an Invitational, and the name was changed to simply the Haskell Stakes.

In 2026, the horse Baby Vino won, making Lindsay Schultz the first woman to train a Haskell winner.

The race has attracted many sponsors including Buick (1996−1998), Izod (2010), William Hill (2013−2015), betfair.com (2016−2018), and TVG.com (2019–2023). In 2024, NYRA Bets (the betting platform owned by the New York Racing Association) became the title sponsor.

Eleven winners of the Haskell have won championship honors at the Eclipse Awards as best three-year-old colt or filly. Five have also been named horse of the year in the year they won the Haskell. They are: Champion three-year-old colts: Wajima (1975), Holy Bull (1994), Skip Away (1996), Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002), Big Brown (2008), Lookin at Lucky (2010), American Pharoah (2015), Authentic (2020) Champion three-year-old fillies: Serena's Song (1995), Rachel Alexandra (2009) Horses of the Year: Holy Bull (1994), Point Given (2001), Rachel Alexandra (2009), American Pharoah (2015), Authentic (2020)

Records Stakes record 1:46.24 – Cyberknife (2022)

Largest winning margin lengths – Verrazano (2013)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Mike E. Smith (1994, 1998, 2020, 2023)

Most wins by a trainer: 9 – Bob Baffert (2001, 2002, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2020)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – The Thoroughbred Corporation (2001, 2002) 2 – WinStar Farm (2006, 2007) 2 – Stonerside Stable (1998, 2009) 2 – Michael Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman (2010, 2011) 2 – Zayat Stables (2012, 2015)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time Purse Grade RefHaskell Stakes2026Baby VinoJorge A. Vargas Jr.Lindsay SchultzCosmo Stables and Delta Squad Racing, LLC1:50.18$1,005,000I2025JournalismUmberto RispoliMichael W. McCarthyEclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert V. LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith 1:48.15$1,017,500I 2024DornochLuis SaezDanny GarganWest Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing & Pine Racing Stables1:50.31$1,017,500I 2023Geaux Rocket Ride Mike E. SmithRichard E. MandellaPin Oak Stud 1:49.52$1,017,500I2022Cyberknife Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxGold Square LLC1:46.24$1,017,500I2021Mandaloun †Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxJuddmonte1:47.38$1,005,000I2020AuthenticMike E. SmithBob BaffertSpendthrift Farm, MyRacehorse Stable, Madaket Stables & Starlight Racing1:50.45$1,005,000IHaskell Invitational Stakes2019Maximum SecurityLuis SaezJason ServisGary & Mary West1:47.56$990,000I2018Good MagicJose L. OrtizChad C. Browne Five Racing & Stonestreet Stables1:50.01$1,010,000I2017GirvinRobby AlbaradoJoe SharpBrad Grady1:48.35$1,010,000I2016ExaggeratorKent J. DesormeauxJ. Keith DesormeauxBig Chief Racing, Rocker O Ranch, Head of Plains Partners & J. Keith Desormeaux1:48.70$1,015,000I2015American PharoahVictor EspinozaBob BaffertZayat Stables1:47.95$1,750,000I2014BayernMartin GarciaBob BaffertKaleem Shah1:47.82$1,030,000I2013VerrazanoJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherLet's Go Stable, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor 1:50.68$1,010,000I2012 PaynterRafael BejaranoBob BaffertZayat Stables1:48.67$1,000,000I2011CoilMartin GarciaBob BaffertMichael Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman 1:48.10$1,020,000I2010Lookin At LuckyMartin GarciaBob BaffertMichael Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman 1:49.40$1,010,000I2009Rachel Alexandra ƒCalvin H. BorelSteven M. AsmussenStonestreet Stables & Harold McCormick1:47.21$1,250,000I2008Big BrownKent J. DesormeauxRichard E. Dutrow Jr.IEAH Stables, Paul Pompa Jr., Gary Tolchin, Andrew Cohen & Pegasus Holdings 1:48.31$1,010,000I2007Garrett K. GomezTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm & Padua Stables 1:48.35$1,060,000I2006Bluegrass CatJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm1:48.85$1,030,000IHaskell Invitational Handicap2005 Roman RulerJerry D. BaileyBob BaffertFog City Stable1:49.88$1,015,000I2004Lion HeartJoe BravoPatrick L. BianconeDerrick Smith & Michael Tabor1:48.95$1,000,000I2003 Peace RulesEdgar S. PradoRobert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann1:49.32$1,000,000I2002 War EmblemVictor EspinozaBob BaffertThe Thoroughbred Corporation1:48.21$990,000 I2001Point GivenGary L. StevensBob BaffertThe Thoroughbred Corporation1:49.77$1,500,000I2000Dixie UnionAlex O. SolisRichard E. MandellaDiamond A Racing & Herman Sarkowsky1:50.00$1,000,000I1999MenifeePat DayW. Elliott WaldenArthur B. Hancock III & James H. Stone1:48.06$1,000,000I1998Coronado's Quest Mike E. SmithClaude R. McGaughey III Stuart S. Janney III & Stonerside Stable1:48.60$1,000,000I1997Touch GoldChris McCarronDavid E. HofmansFrank Stronach & Stonerside Stable1:47.62$1,240,000I1996Skip AwayJose A. SantosSonny HineCarolyn Hine1:47.73$750,000I1995Serena's Song ƒ Gary L. StevensD. Wayne LukasRobert & Beverly Lewis1:48.94$500,000I1994Holy BullMike E. SmithJimmy CrollWarren A. Croll Jr.1:48.36$500,000I1993Kissin KrisJose A. SantosDavid R. BellJohn A. Franks1:49.58$500,000I1992TechnologyJerry D. BaileySonny HineScott C. Savin & Classic Partners1:48.78$500,000I1991Lost MountainCraig PerretThomas K. BohannanLoblolly Stable1:48.06$500,000I1990Restless ConTimothy T. DoocyDuane OffieldJane Chambers & Barbera Rago1:49.20$500,000I1989King GloriousChris McCarronJerry HollendorferFour M Stable & Halo Farms1:49.80$500,000I1988Forty NinerLaffit Pincay Jr.Woodford C. StephensClaiborne Farm1:47.60$500,000I1987Bet TwiceCraig PerretJimmy CrollCisley Stable & Blanche Levy1:47.00$500,000I1986Wise TimesPhilip A. Gleaves Russell L. Reineman Stables 1:48.60$300,000I1985Skip TrialJean-Luc SamynSonny HineMrs. Ben Cohen1:48.60$300,000I1984Big PistolGarth PattersonLynn S. WhitingW. Cal Partee 1:47.80$204,500I1983Deputed TestamonyHerb McCauleyJ. William BonifaceBonita Farm1:49.20$200,000I1982Wavering MonarchRandy RomeroGeorge R. Arnold IIGlencrest Farm1:47.80$200,000I1981Five Star FlightCraig PerretBen W. Perkins Sr.Mr. & Mrs. Arnold A. Wilcox1:48.40$200,000IMonmouth Invitational Handicap1980Thanks to TonyCarlos E. Lopez Sr.Reynaldo H. NoblesSui Generis Stables1:49.40$150,000I1979 CoastalRuben HernandezDavid A. WhiteleyWilliam Haggin Perry1:48.80$100,000I1978Delta FlagDanny NiedDogwood Stable1:53.20$100,000I1977AffiliateMiguel A. RiveraLaz BarreraHarbor View Farm1:50.60$100,000I1976Majestic LightSandy HawleyJohn W. RussellOgden Mills Phipps1:47.00$100,000I1975WajimaBraulio BaezaStephen A. DiMauroEast-West Stable1:49.60$100,000I1974Holding PatternMichael Miceli Jerome Sarner Jr.John Gerbas & Bob Schleicher1:49.80$100,000I1973Our NativeMiguel A. Rivera William J. Resseguet Elizabeth Pritchard1:48.60$100,000I1972FreetexMichael Hole William T. Raymond Middletown Stable (Joseph & William Stavola)1:50.00$100,000 1971West Coast ScoutLarry AdamsMervin J. MarksOxford Stable1:48.00$100,000 1970Twice WorthyJohn RuaneJames P. ConwaySaddle Rock Farm 1:48.40$100,000 1969Al Hattab Ray BroussardWarren A. Croll Jr.Pelican Stable (Rachel Carpenter)1:50.20$100,0001968Balustrade Eric Walsh Morris H. Dixon Thaddeus R. Trout1:50.00$75,000

Notes:

ƒ Filly or Mare

† In the 2021 running Hot Rod Charlie was first past the winning post but was disqualified and placed seventh (last) for interfering in the stretch run clipping Midnight Bourbon who dislodged his rider Paco Lopez.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References