Haskell purse up to $1.75M days before American Pharoah runs

Triple Crown-winner American Pharoah has arrived at Monmouth Park racetrack ahead of Sunday’s Haskell Invitational race.

The horse will remain at Monmouth Park until Sunday’s running of the Haskell.

“The Haskell has been called the fourth jewel of the Triple Crown”, said Bob Kulina, president of Darby Development, operators of Monmouth Park.

In 2001 the purse for the Haskell was $1.5 million when Point Given proved victorious, and in 2009, reached $1.25 million when the filly Rachel Alexandra romped home.

“In addition to our regularly scheduled trains stopping at Monmouth Park, NJ TRANSIT plans to operate unscheduled trains to help facilitate the movement of people safely out of the park”, NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Veronique “Ronnie” Hakim, said.

Jimmy Barnes, the assistant to American Pharoah’s trainer Bob Baffert, was with the horse.

Triple Crown victor American Pharoah completed a half-mile workout at Del Mar in his last formal exercise before the Haskell Invitational this weekend. The Pioneerof the Nile super colt will likely gallop over the main track Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 7:30-7:50 a.m. – a time slot that has been reserved for Haskell participants only. NBC will broadcast this year’s race live from 5 to 6 p.m.