Trainer Ken McPeek confirmed yesterday that his undefeated 3-year-old Wild and Wicked will start in the $1 million Haskell Invitational Handicap at Monmouth Park on Sunday.
The colt comes off a victory in the $300,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown June 21.
"I decided to run him in the Haskell (instead of the $500,000 Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga the same afternoon) because of the $1 million purse, because it's a Grade 1 race and because we will be getting five pounds from Funny Cide," McPeek said.
A son of Wild Again, Wild and Wicked has made only three career starts, but his conditioner thinks he is ready for the step up to Grade 1 competition.
"He is training very well," he said. "He is much stronger coming into this race than he was before the Ohio Derby. He's eating better, he has been more aggressive in the feed tub, and his last work was extremely sharp. He's good to go."
Wild and Wicked prepped for the Haskell last Wednesday, going five furlongs in a bullet :59.40 in the slop at Saratoga. Regular rider Shane Sellers will have the mount in the Haskell.
McPeek has not yet decided when his colt will ship down from Saratoga.
"It could be Thursday, Friday or Saturday, I'm just not sure yet," he said.
Kentucky Derby
and Preakness winner Funny Cide had his final Haskell prep Sunday, going six furlongs in 1:12.40 over a fast strip at Saratoga. With exercise rider Robin Smullen in the saddle, the chestnut gelding went the opening quarter in :24.20 and the half in :47.60 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26 flat.
"Robin thought he went really well over the track," trainer Barclay Tagg said. "He was pulling her through the work. He came back well and he looks good. Everything went really smoothly."
Tagg said the New York-bred is scheduled to arrive at Monmouth on Sunday morning, but added, "It's pretty hard to put all of this down like clockwork with everyone following it."
During the Triple Crown campaign, the trainer had announced that Funny Cide would arrive at Pimlico the morning of the Preakness, but shipped his horse from New York the day before the race.
http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1059459050276300.xml
The colt comes off a victory in the $300,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown June 21.
"I decided to run him in the Haskell (instead of the $500,000 Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga the same afternoon) because of the $1 million purse, because it's a Grade 1 race and because we will be getting five pounds from Funny Cide," McPeek said.
A son of Wild Again, Wild and Wicked has made only three career starts, but his conditioner thinks he is ready for the step up to Grade 1 competition.
"He is training very well," he said. "He is much stronger coming into this race than he was before the Ohio Derby. He's eating better, he has been more aggressive in the feed tub, and his last work was extremely sharp. He's good to go."
Wild and Wicked prepped for the Haskell last Wednesday, going five furlongs in a bullet :59.40 in the slop at Saratoga. Regular rider Shane Sellers will have the mount in the Haskell.
McPeek has not yet decided when his colt will ship down from Saratoga.
"It could be Thursday, Friday or Saturday, I'm just not sure yet," he said.
Kentucky Derby
and Preakness winner Funny Cide had his final Haskell prep Sunday, going six furlongs in 1:12.40 over a fast strip at Saratoga. With exercise rider Robin Smullen in the saddle, the chestnut gelding went the opening quarter in :24.20 and the half in :47.60 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26 flat.
"Robin thought he went really well over the track," trainer Barclay Tagg said. "He was pulling her through the work. He came back well and he looks good. Everything went really smoothly."
Tagg said the New York-bred is scheduled to arrive at Monmouth on Sunday morning, but added, "It's pretty hard to put all of this down like clockwork with everyone following it."
During the Triple Crown campaign, the trainer had announced that Funny Cide would arrive at Pimlico the morning of the Preakness, but shipped his horse from New York the day before the race.
http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1059459050276300.xml
