2011 Haskell Invitational Horse Racing Picks

Written by Jake Thompson
Friday, 29 July 2011 20:35

We’ve handicapped the 2011 Haskell Invitational odds and are ready to release our horse racing picks.

The 2011 Haskell Invitational will be shown live on ABC on July 31st, and we have our horse racing picks up early so that you don’t miss the 5:43 PM ET post time from Monmouth Park.  We’ve been covering the Haskell horses throughout the week and there are definitely a few entries that stand out above the rest of the pack.  Coming off of a nice win in the Delaware Handicap, we hope to continue the horse racing success enjoyed over the past few years in the Haskell.

2011 Haskell Invitational Odds, Horses, and Post Positions:

1 – Coil, 3/1 odds

2 – Joe Vann, 15/1 odds

3 – Pants on Fire, 4/1 odds

4 – Concealed Identity, 12/1 odds

5 – Shackleford, 5/2 odds

6 – Ruler on Ice, 4/1 odds

7 – J J’s Lucky Train, 20/1 odds

8 – Astrology, 9/2 odds

2011 Haskell Invitational Tips and Thoughts:

The first thing I’ll do here is toss out Joe Vann and Ruler on Ice.  Joe Vann is the worst horse in the lineup and doesn’t belong in my opinion, while Ruler on Ice has only excelled on sloppy tracks in the rain.  With the weather expected to be warm at post time in the Haskell Invitational, I’m tossing one of Kelly Breen’s horses.

Breen’s other horse, Pants on Fire, has made the cut into our trifecta.  I’ve been hearing encouraging notes from Monmouth Park about how this horse has been running lately, and he’s fresh off a Pegasus Stakes win at this track.  He won the Pegasus despite a trip at the gate, plus I think the Haskell Invitational is going to be dominated by horses that either set the pace or stalk closely which fits this horses style.

Another horse I love is Preakness Stakes winner Shakleford at 5/2 odds.  He’ll try to wire the field and he just might be able to do it with the 1 1/8 mile Haskell distance being much shorter than the Triple Crown races where Shackleford ran out of steam late.  He’s too talented to not be in the top 3 and there is still some value at that number.

Although I love Astrology and have bet on him quite a bit in the past, I just don’t think there is value taking him at 9/2 odds in the Haskell.  He is starting from the far outside and simply has more traffic to deal with than the other talented runners that should get a cleaner run.  Although the talent is there, I just don’t see any value in taking the far outside horse when there are other capable entries further on the inside.

The last horse I’m including in my Haskell Invitational trifecta is Coil.  Although he doesn’t have the Triple Crown experience of many of the other contenders here, Coil has more pure potential than anyone.  Sired by the great Point Given (a Haskell winner himself), Coil is running for the first time on dirt after 5 strong starts on the synthetic surface at Hollywood Park.  He’s a dirt horse through-and-through and I expect this Bob Baffert runner to really impress.

2011 Haskell Invitational Picks – Trifecta:

Coil, Shackleford, and Pants on Fire

2011 Haskell Invitational Picks – Winner:

Shackleford