Taiba, Jack Christopher Top Tote For TVG Haskell from Monmouth Park

Two of the young superstars of the game will square off at Monmouth Park in the TVG Haskell Stakes. Jack Christopher and Taiba are set to throw down on Saturday.

Taiba Returns

Heading into the Kentucky Derby Taiba was one of the buzz horses. His brilliance was unmatched. The undefeated, lightly raced budding superstar bounced. Some blamed the loss on his transfer out of the Baffert barn when the trainer was suspended. Others claimed it was too ambitious of a campaign.

Regardless of the reason, the horse was not at his best and never threatened on the first Saturday in May. After a long layoff and a return to the Bob Baffert barn, Taiba returns in the TVG Haskell at Monmouth Park. He was installed as the morning line favorite.

Jack Christopher

The Triple Crown was won by 3 different horses in 2022. That leaves the debate for 3 year old of the year wide open. One of the compelling cases that has been made is that Jack Christopher is deserving of that title.

The horse is 4-0 in his career and 2-0 in a pair of graded stakes races since turning 3 years old. The question on this one will be the distance. The 9 furlongs will be one furlong further than he’s ever run before. Adding to the difficulty will be the presence of his ultra talented rival, Taiba.

Haskell Full Card Analysis

Monmouth Park- Race 1

Post: 12:00 PM ET; $57.5k Allowance going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 11

• #8 WITH BELLS ON (3-1) gets the top selection. She has the top overall power rating in the group. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance.
• #4 REGAL REALM (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. She has races good enough to beat this group.
• #11 SHE FLED THE SCENE (12-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She makes sense on speed figures.
• #7 MY MAGGIE MOO (15-1) is a pace player in this spot. The odds make this one worth a look on the bottom rungs of many vertical exotics.

Selections: 8 – 4 – 11- 7

Monmouth Park- Race 2

Post: 12:27 PM ET; $57.5k Maiden Special Weight going 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #8 TIEMPO PERFECTO (10-1) gets the top selection at a price. He has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot. This one has the perfect run style for this type of race and may just get the perfect trip here.
• #5 BLAME D RULE MAKER (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. He is well bred for this race.
• #2 EASY AS A. B. C. (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. He goes out for the Breen barn and gets Lopez in the irons.
• #6 ROYAL MOVER (5-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Pletcher and Prat.

Selections: 8 – 5 – 2 – 6

Monmouth Park- Race 3

Post: 12:54 PM ET; $100k Wolf Hill S. going about 5 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 8

• #5 THE CRITICAL WAY (2-1) gets the top selection. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one may get the absolute dream flow of the race in this spot.
• #2 BIG PACKAGE (5-2) appears to be a major player in this race. He has the top overall power rating in the group. This one has the perfect run style for this type of race and may just get a really nice trip here.
• #7 BELGRANO (3-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one should be in the right spot to be in with a chance late.
• #3 PROVEN STRATEGIES (7-2) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He looks to be the class of the field. This one makes sense on speed figures.

Selections: 5 – 2 – 7 – 3

Monmouth Park- Race 4

Post: 1:22 PM ET; $60k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 mile 70 yards on dirt; Entries: 10

• #1 I CAN RUN (10-1) gets the top selection from the rail. She shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile 70 yard distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #5 SUSPENDED CAMPAIGN (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. She has the top overall power rating in the group. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #2 EARLY EDITION (10-1) should be competitive in this spot. She has the perfect run style for this type of race and may just get the perfect trip.
• #3 FIRENZE FREEDOM (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. She looks to be the class of the field.

Selections: 1 – 5 – 2 – 3

Monmouth Park- Race 5

Post: 1:52 PM ET; $27.5k Claiming going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 13

• #11 UNLEVERAGED (3-1) gets the top selection. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has to be given a look going out for the combination of Rodriguez and Lopez.
• #12 ON THE COUCH (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has the top overall power rating in the group. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #7 BIRD'S EYE VIEW (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. He has races that fit with the numbers of this group. The pace scenario may elevate this runner.
• #2 MIRACLE SILVER (6-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He has races to be in this mix.

Selections: 11- 12- 7 – 2

Monmouth Park- Race 6

Post: 2:24 PM ET; $60k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 mile 70 yards on dirt; Entries: 9

• #7 DREAMING OF GERRY (5-1) gets the top selection. He should be in the right spot to be in with a chance late. This one makes sense on speed figures.
• #2 AWESOME AARON (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. The speed figures make sense in here.
• #1 AFFABLE MONARCH (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. He goes out for the Duarte barn and gets Rodriguez in the irons. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #4 OUR LUCKY MAN (6-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He seems to fit well enough here. This one may get the absolute dream flow of the race in this spot.

Selections: 7 – 2 – 1 – 4

Monmouth Park- Race 7

Post: 2:56 PM ET; $57.5k Allowance going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 12

• #2 AGENT CREED (6-1) gets the top selection. He seems to fit well enough here. This one could get the right setup in this race.
• #1 CREDIT RIVER (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Thomas and Prat. This is another one that could benefit from the pace of the race.
• #10 DOMINATE THEMOMENT (7-2) could be in with a shot in this race. He should be in the right spot to be in with a chance in the lane.
• #12 LEO MONTE (12-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance. The outside post is the only question here.

Selections: 2 – 1 – 10- 12

Monmouth Park- Race 8

Post: 3:29 PM ET; $400k Monmouth Cup S. going 1 1/8 miles on dirt; Entries: 7

• #7 HIGHLY MOTIVATED (6-5) gets the top selection. He seems to fit well enough here. This one has the top overall power rating in the group. This one was once a wise guy horse in the Kentucky Derby.
• #6 PIPELINE (3-2) could be in with a shot in this race. He shouldn't have trouble with the 1 1/8 mile distance. This one has the perfect run style for this type of race and may just get the perfect trip here.
• #3 INFORMATIVE (10-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #4 ROUGH SEA (6-1) isn't without hope. This one has hit the board at this distance in the past.

Selections: 7 – 6 – 3 – 4

Monmouth Park- Race 9

Post: 4:05 PM ET; $200k WinStar Matchmaker S. going 1 1/8 miles on turf; Entries: 8

• #7 VIGILANTES WAY (7-2) gets the top selection. She has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one should be in the right spot to be in with a chance late.
• #6 FLUFFY SOCKS (5-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She seems to fit well enough here. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #5 FLIGHTY LADY (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She should be in with a shot turning for home.
• #2 LEMISTA (5-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one could trip out in this race and has some really good races to run back to.

Selections: 7 – 6 – 5 – 2

Monmouth Park- Race 10

Post: 4:38 PM ET; $400k Molly Pitcher S. going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 7

• #3 SEARCH RESULTS (3-2) gets the top selection. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Brown and Prat. This one could get the right setup in this race. This one is an undeniable talent.
• #7 BONNY SOUTH (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. She has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one should relish the distance.
• #4 ARMY WIFE (7-2) could be in with a shot in this race. She should be in the right spot to be in with a chance late. This one has been really solid in recent starts and could be rounding back into form.
• #2 PENNYBAKER (5-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. This one could be getting better and in with a shot to hit the board here.

Selections: 3 – 7 – 4 – 2

Monmouth Park- Race 11

Post: 5:09 PM ET; $600k United Nations S. going 1 3/8 miles on turf; Entries: 10

• #4 TRIBHUVAN (5-2) gets the top selection. This one is the defending champion in this race and looks really good here.
• #10 GUFO (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. That being said it is hard to know if this one can make flip the script on the #4.
• #3 TEMPLE (6-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He seems to fit well enough here. This one would need a little step forward but at 6-1 the bettors can stomach a little extra risk.
• #1 ADHAMO (3-1) isn't without hope. This one may be able to make use of a nice late kick to be a player in the shadow of the wire.

Selections: 4 – 10- 3 – 1

Monmouth Park- Race 12

Post: 5:45 PM ET; $1000k TVG.com Haskell S. going 1 1/8 miles on dirt; Entries: 8

• #7 JACK CHRISTOPHER (3-2) gets the top selection. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Brown and Ortiz. This one very well may be the post time favorite and has looked every bit a champion to this point.
• #2 TAIBA (7-5) appears to be a major player in this race. The brilliance is undeniable. The distance isn’t in question. The question here is can the horse bounce back from a subpar Derby.
• #6 WHITE ABARRIO (5-1) seems like the top that is running for the minor placings. This one is another from the Derby trail. He likes to run late and if the heavyweights throw down up front, he could pick up the pieces.
• #1 CYBERKNIFE (6-1) feels like a real stretch, but could get first jump on the #6 and is trained by Brad Cox which is always worth something.

Selections: 7 – 2 – 6 – 1

Monmouth Park- Race 13

Post: 6:20 PM ET; $19k Maiden Claiming going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 12

• #10 OPENTHEGATE (4-1) gets the top selection. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Walder and Lopez. This one has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #6 REQUESTFORPROPOSAL (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures. This one has the perfect run style for this type of race and may just get the perfect trip here.
• #5 MAGIC SURPRISE (10-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She is worth a look going out for the combination of Camejo and Rendon.
• #2 WAR IN PARADISE (5-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. Her figures fit with this group.

Selections: 10- 6 – 5 – 2

Monmouth Park- Race 14

Post: 6:49 PM ET; $20k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 9

• #5 ALARM CLOCK (5-2) gets the top selection. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #8 EXPECT TO BE READY (6-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She makes sense on speed figures.
• #1 FOLK HERO (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. She has races that make her a major factor in this spot. This one could get the right setup in this race.
• #4 TWIN BRIDGES (20-1) could be in with a shot in this race. The pace of the race suggests this one could outrun the odds.

Selections: 5 – 8 – 1 – 4

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