Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba (7-5) has been installed as the slight morning-line favorite ahead of Saturday's running of the $1 million Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.
The California shipper makes his return to the track after finishing 12th in the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Bob Baffert has the son of former Breeders' Cup Classic winner Gun Runner back in his barn after he was transferred to trainer Tim Yakteen for the first leg of the Triple Crown series.
Baffert was handed a 90-day suspension and fined $7,500 back in February after the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission officially disqualified 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit after testing positive for a banned race-day drug.
Undefeated Jack Christopher (3-2) checks in as the second choice for trainer Chad Brown. The son of Munnings will leave the starting gate with the seven other 3-year-olds in the first major Grade 1 stakes of the summer, which will also feature races at Del Mar and Saratoga Race Course to name a few.
Other key contenders are Florida Derby winner White Abarrio (5-1) and Arkansas Derby champion Cyberknife (6-1) in the Haskell field.
The Haskell will be televised by NBC Sports as part of its “Road to the Breeders' Cup” series, which will air on CNBC from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET at Monmouth Park. Earlier races will air live on TVG. You can also stream the races on NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app and Peacock Premium.
Action Network Horse Racing Editor Jeremy Pond and TVG analyst Andie Biancone have returned to provide in-depth coverage of the Haskell Stakes and other races on the busy Monmouth Park card.
That said, let's take a look at the intriguing field and current odds.
2022 Haskell Stakes Odds
| POST POSITION | HORSE | ODDS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cyberknife | 6-1 |
| 2 | Taiba | 7-5 |
| 3 | One Time Willard | 30-1 |
| 4 | Howling Time | 10-1 |
| 5 | King of Hollywood | 30-1 |
| 6 | White Abarrio | 5-1 |
| 7 | Jack Christopher | 3-2 |
| 8 | Benevengo | 20-1 |
