Two-time classic winner Afleet Alex is set for the Aug. 7 $1 million Haskell Invitational, and the field for the mile-and-an-eighth contest continues to take shape with four likely for the race and four considered possible.

Afleet Alex, who has been top-weighted at 123 pounds, has a long list of credentials and a hefty bankroll to back up his record of 12 8-2-1. In addition to capturing the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes earlier this spring, Afleet Alex has racked up wins in the Sanford (G2) and Hopeful (G1) as a 2-year-old as well as runner-up performances in the Champagne (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last year.

He returned to win the Mountain View at Oaklawn in his 3-year-old bow and also racked up a win in the Arkansas Derby (G2) before finishing third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and then winning the last two legs of the Triple Crown.

Owned by Cash is King LLC and trained by Tim Ritchey, Afleet Alex has earned $2,765,800 in his racing career. The colt by Northern Afleet from the Hawkster mare Maggy Hawk is slated to make his first start since the Belmont when he heads postward in the Haskell.

Also considered likely for the Haskell is Roman Ruler, victor of the Dwyer (G2) at Belmont in his most recent. Roman Ruler has captured three Grade 2 events in his seven lifetime starts. Owned by Fog City Stable and trained by two-time Haskell winner Bob Baffert, Roman Ruler is a colt by 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus from the Silver Deputy mare Silvery Swan. The mile-and-an-eighth Haskell will be the farthest Roman Ruler has gone.

The local hope for the Haskell is Park Avenue Ball, winner of the Long Branch Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3) at Monmouth last out. Last year, Lion Heart became the first Long Branch and Haskell winner in track history, and trainer James Ryerson is hoping to extend that streak to two straight years.

Owned by Char-Mari Stable and bred in the Garden State, Park Avenue Ball is by Citidancer out of Road to the Ball by Cahill Road. He has a record of 10 4-3-0, including a win last season in the Grade 2 Futurity at Belmont. The Long Branch romp of six lengths marked the colt’s first win in 2005. He has never been worse than second in four starts over the Monmouth strip.

Indy Storm is among those on the likely list for the Haskell. Owned by Tracy Farmer and trained by Nick Zito, the colt by A.P. Indy from the Unbridled mare Unbridled Wind has two wins to his credit and a fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes.

The list of possibles for the Haskell includes Ohio Derby (G2) winner Palladio, owned by Haras Santa Maria de Araras and trained by Roger Attfield; Pin Oak Stable LLC’s Devilment, victor of the Round Table at Arlington last out and trained by Michael Stidham; Greg Norman’s Papi Chullo, trained by Salvador G. Gonzalez and runner-up in the Sham Stakes and fourth in the Fountain of Youth before breaking his maiden in his most recent; and, Chekhov, owned and trained by last year’s Haskell winning connections, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Patrick Biancone. Chekhov was runner-up in the Long Branch last out.

The field for the Haskell will be drawn on Thursday, Aug. 4, with the Aug. 7 race slated as the 12th of 14 on the card. Post time for Haskell Day is noon with the Haskell scheduled for 6:10 p.m.

Bravo tops riders;

Breen leads trainers, Gill owners

With the 90-day 2005 Monmouth Park meet just past the halfway mark, jockey Joe Bravo continues to lead all riders, while Kelly John Breen tops the trainer’s standings and Michael Gill shows the way in the owner’s contest.

Bravo, who suffered a broken collarbone in a spill on Thursday at Monmouth, has 76 wins this meet, 22 more than Stewart Elliott. The 33-year-old Bravo, a 10-time riding champion at the Shore racetrack, is expected to be out of action for the next four weeks.

Behind Bravo and Elliott in the standings is Chris DeCarlo who has piloted 35 winners from 141 mounts, good for a 25 percent win clip.

Over in the trainer’s column, Kelly John Breen has sent out 17 winners from 48 starters, winning at a 35 percent rate. Tied in second with 15 winners apiece are Todd Pletcher and Bruce Levine.

Michael Gill, leading owner the past two Monmouth seasons, shows the way again this year, having seen his charges in the winner’s circle on 11 occasions, three more than Jayeff B Stables and Hardacre Farm LLC. Gerald Sleeter is fourth with seven wins, one more than Eddie Broome.