Mindframe installed as 9-5 morning line favorite in Saturday’s NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes
At 2h27, on July 19, 2024 • By Monmouth Park
Mindframe, the Belmont Stakes runner-up by only a half-length in his last effort, will attempt to give trainer Todd Pletcher his fourth victory in the $1 million, Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park.
Owned by the partnership of Repole Stable (Mike Repole) and St. Elias Stable (Vinnie Viola), Mindframe has been installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite and is one of three top class 3-year-olds entered in the field of eight by the Hall of Fame trainer on Wednesday.
The Haskell is a “Win and You’re In” designated race for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Repole Stable’s Fierceness, the 5-2 co-choice second favorite with Belmont winner Dornoch, and 9-2 early pick Tuscan Sky are the other two from the Pletcher barn.
Nevertheless, all three Pletcher trainees may not make it into the Haskell starting gate. The ownership interests of Fierceness and Mindframe presented a dilemma at entry time.
“We’ve been preparing as though Fierceness is going to run in the Haskell,” said Pletcher, who has the Florida Derby winner also under consideration for the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga Race Course one week later. “With common ownership and Mike Repole owning 100 per cent of Fierceness and 50 percent of Mindframe, I suppose that’s going to play into the equation.
“Mike’s going to have to look at it and decide and decide if he wants to run them against each other or split them up. We’ve been preparing with both options in mind.”
The final plan may not be determined with any immediacy.
“The idea at this time is to buy as much time as possible to make that decision,” said Pletcher, whose previous Haskell winners include Verrazano (2013), Any Given Saturday (2007) and Blue Grass Cat (2006).
Either way, Pletcher is convinced that Fierceness, who in his last outing endured a troubled trip and finished 15th in the Kentucky Derby on May 4, is ready to redeem himself.
“He’s been breezing really, really well. Right after the Derby the first thought was that we were going to take a look at the Belmont but it seemed like it took him a couple of weeks to get over the Derby and get back to himself,” Pletcher said. “I’m glad that we passed the Belmont and gave him the extra time. It’s paid dividends in terms of him putting on some good quality weight and training like he does when he’s at his very best.”
Mindframe will break from post seven under regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr., who has won five Eclipse Awards as Outstanding Jockey and makes his first Haskell appearance.
