Haskell or Travers
 

Do you guys think American Pharoah will go to the Haskell or Travers next?

I think the Haskell.

I would love to see American Pharoah try for the Mid Summer Derby. The summer at Saratoga would be so much better.

Baffert IMO fancies the Haskell. The horse won the TC. They don't need to win the Travers. Financial incentives off the sale exist for the BCC. IMO it will be a light Haskell and easy field/easy win, and the next and last big challenge AP will face post Belmont will be the BCC. That's really all they need to focus on. The only way I think it doesn't pan that way is if the Zayat's want the Travers, which of course would be a great day for racing. I don't see it happening, though.

Why not both the Haskill and the Travers, one or both races will be a walkover for American Pharoah.

^What they said. Why not the Jockey Club Gold Cup too? That would be amazing.

I keep hearing about monetary incentives written into the agreement with Ashford Stud. If this is true, then I would have to think a Travers win would be worth more to a breeder than a Haskell...although at this point, being a Triple Crown winner, I doubt he can get any more valuable...so maybe all those incentives are now moot...

Zayat just said on MSNBC he will be going to Monmouth for the Haskell. Monmouth Park really needed that. Gonna be a great day.


https://twitter.com/Morning_Joe/stat...96923823939585

I agree, I can imagine there was a kicker for winning the TC, but the rest IMO is far fetched.

By offering kicker after kicker for races, they would be encouraging the owner to race him more than he needs. This increases the chances the horse could regress and "look bad". The breeder in a perfect world would want the horse to win the TC, make a few non racing appearances to keep his name and glory alive then go to stud.

I do hope they keep him racing though.

As I recall, Baffert got a hefty bonus to run War Emblem in the Haskell. I wonder if Saratoga would move the date for the Travers back a week or two, trainers might then consider running in both.

He could very easily run in both.

Last year, practically everybody in the Travers was in either the Haskell or the Jim Dandy (day before the Haskell).

He'll probably go to the Haskell, although selfishly I would like to see him run in the Travers.

If it's the Haskell that one road leading to the track will be a horror
not to mention the shore traffic is anyway in the summer .
Plan on leaving before daylight :lol: :lol: :lol: .

I'm sure the Spa would be jammed as well with a TC winner appearing but
honestly I think MP trip could be grueling .

Yeah Rt 36 will be a mess... however i think it best he goes to the Haskell the Jersey Shore crowd will be fantastic and Monmouth Park really needs this. On the other hand it means the Travers will be a really good wide open race. Lets not forget this is a really good crop and id imagine most trainers wont want to face AP in the Haskell so it should stack the race for the Travers. Figure Dortmund goes to Travers since no way Baff will put him vs Pharoah at the Haskell. Firing Line, Frosted, among others... While American Pharoah takes his well deserved victory lap around Monmouth in front of a great crowd.

JCGC followed by the BCC.

HASKELL OR TRAVERS
 

ZAYAT LIVES IN NJ FIRST TIME HE WON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH
A SATURDAY, AS HE IS ORTHODOX. :eek:

THAT SAID, HASKELL S/B EASIER THAN SARATOGA, BOTH FROM THE COMPETITION AS WELL AS THE COOLER WEATHER.

FRANKLY, I THOUGHT BAFFERT WOULD SIMPLY TARGET THE BREEDERS CUP, WHICH SHOULD BE THE ULTIMATE RACE PRIOR TO AP'S RETIREMENT.