Bluegrass Cat scores impressive win at Haskell
Local favorite Praying for Cash finishes second
BY DOUG McKENZIE
Staff Writer

Above, Bluegrass Cat and jockey John Velazquez are congratulated by the horse's trainer, Todd Pletcher following their impressive win at Sunday's Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in Oceanport. Below, "Pony Police" members Mike Pearson, riding Tiger, Lynn Berry, riding Poncho, and Carlos Treao, riding J.D., enjoy a few laughs before leading the horses to the starting gate prior to the race.

OCEANPORT - For a while at least, it looked as though the local favorite was poised to appease the crowd, as Praying for Cash looked to be in control of Sunday's Haskell Invitational through the first mile of the race.

But in the end it was WinStar Farm's Bluegrass Cat who was the dominating force at Monmouth Park Sunday, driving to an impressive victory in the $1 million Haskell Invitational presented by Vonage, and putting himself squarely in the championship picture as racing's second season begins.

The Storm Cat colt, who finished second in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes this year, finally collected his own Grade 1 trophy with a tour de force performance that left a talented field in his wake. He also gave trainer Todd Pletcher his first victory in the Haskell Invitational with his fourth starter in the race. It was also the first Haskell win for jockey John Velazquez.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN

"He's been doing so well since the Belmont Stakes that we were enthusiastic about this race," Pletcher said. "Although, you never envision something as dominating as this.

"His performance today is as good as any 3-year-old's this year. To win a Grade 1 as significant as the Haskell puts him in the elite category as a racehorse and prospective sire."

A crowd of 42,318 (fifth largest in Haskell history) cheered home the winner, who went off the even-money favorite and beat local favorite Praying for Cash by seven lengths. Strong Contender finished third, a length and a quarter farther back, and Victory Lake was fourth, four and a half farther back.

"We couldn't have asked for a better day today," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority. "It's been an extraordinary weekend for racing in New Jersey, with the Hambletonian yesterday and the Haskell today, and I have to thank the horsemen and the fans for making it all possible.

"Anytime 70,000 people show up to watch racing, you know you've created two great events that generate excitement, not only statewide but nationwide, and will continue to grow for many years to come."

Local favorite Praying for Cash, owned by Bobby Hurley, Ricky Gallo and Pat Scire, trained by Monmouth leader Kelly John Breen (of Old Bridge) and ridden by perennial Monmouth champ Joe Bravo (of Long Branch), gave the crowd a thrill for a mile in the Haskell, as he took the track at the start and set solid fractions.

"This horse ran awesome," said Bravo, who had already won five races preceding the Haskell on Sunday, following the big race. "Down the backside, I had lots of horse and all I could think about was the gold. This is a great horse."

Breen echoed Bravo's sentiments.

"I left it in Joe's hands," he said. "I said to make sure he breaks sharp and he can go to the front. I was watching the race closely; when he spurted away at the 3/8th-pole I thought he had a big shot. He ran a big race. I couldn't expect much more than winning. He ran great. We were just second best."

Bluegrass Cat was sitting on ready, and when Velazquez asked the question in the stretch, the colt answered emphatically, drawing off as the rider pleased.

"I wanted to be close to the pace," Velazquez said. "I could see he [Praying for Cash] was going a good pace, but he was doing it so easily that I wanted to stay close. The way the track was playing, I wanted to stay outside, so drawing post 9 turned out to be good.

"We were able to get good position going down the backstretch, and he was pulling on me just waiting for me to ask him to run," the winning jockey added "When I called on him, that was it. He really just took off, went right by that other horse [Praying for Cash] turning for home. He did the whole thing really easily. It was a very impressive race from him."

Praying for Cash, who went off at 9-1, held gamely for second, and Strong Contender, the 21-10 second choice, finished evenly for the show.

"Unfortunately the rail was dead today, so that hurt us," said Edgar Prado, who rode Strong Contender. "I tried to get outside, but it didn't work."

"It was a polo match around the first turn. He had a rough trip," added Strong Contender's trainer, John Ward. "We got crammed, rammed and bammed. The winner got away clean. That's horse racing. Anything that takes that much knocking around early in the race is tough to overcome. He had a kind of 'coming of age' today. You had to be there at the half-mile pole. He was still fighting through horses and the winner was already gone. We'll see how he comes back. He was sharp in the post parade. He was a happy horse today."

Bluegrass Cat raced the mile and an eighth in 1:48 4/5, and paid $4, $2.80 and $2.40 across the board. Praying for Cash returned $5 and $3 and completed the $40.60 exacta. Strong Contender was $2.60 to show.

Pletcher would not commit to the Travers Stakes (Aug. 26 at Saratoga) as Bluegrass Cat's next step on the road to the Breeders' Cup and year-end honors.

Should Bluegrass Cat race at the Travers Stakes, it could mean a showdown with Preakness winner Bernardini.

"We only have 20 days to the Travers," he said, "which gives the horses who ran in the Jim Dandy an extra week on us. We'll let him tell us how he bounces out of this."

Praying for Cash was reported in fine fettle following the Haskell.

"He's in great shape," said Breen. "Joe (jockey Bravo) rode him great. He knows this racetrack like the back of his hand and he did a fantastic job. We're all still ecstatic over the race. We haven't decided on his next start as of yet."

Trainer John Ward, who sent out third-place finisher Strong Contender in the mile and an eighth Haskell, reported his horse in good shape as well, even after getting bumped around in the race.

"The colt is fine," said Ward from his Saratoga headquarters. "He's no worse for the wear after the roller derby that he was in.

He's back at Belmont now and we'll sit down and make a decision about his next race soon."