Further Ado Leads Strong Haskell Field as Iowa Horse Racing Fans Watch Closely
Iowa horse racing enthusiasts have a compelling reason to tune in Saturday as the $1 million Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park brings together a deep field of seven 3-year-old colts, including Preakness winner Napoleon Solo and Kentucky Derby contender Further Ado. The 59th running of the Haskell, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race for the Classic division, offers a glimpse into the nation's top thoroughbred talent and carries implications for the fall championship season.
Further Ado, the 2-1 morning line favorite, enters off a two-length victory in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in early June. The Gun Runner colt, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., has shown remarkable consistency since breaking his maiden by 20 lengths at Keeneland as a 2-year-old. Cox has won the Haskell twice before, with Mandaloun in 2021 and Cyberknife in 2022, making him a proven commodity in this race.
What makes Further Ado the horse to beat
Further Ado's resume includes a dominant 11-length win in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, earning a career-best Equibase Speed Figure of 107, the highest in the field. He also ranks first in late pace with a 100.0 rating, a key factor in dirt route stakes races. Horses with the highest late pace rating who won their most recent start have won at a 32 percent clip over the past year, a trend that bodes well for Further Ado.
His training has been sharp since the Matt Winn, including a five-furlong bullet work in :59 flat on July 4 and another five furlongs in :59.60 before shipping to Monmouth. Cox and Ortiz Jr. have a dominant 31 percent win rate together in graded stakes over the past three years, rising to 35 percent when the horse won its last out.
Napoleon Solo aims for Preakness-Haskell double
Napoleon Solo, the 5-2 second choice, won the Preakness Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths last time out, rekindling memories of his undefeated 2-year-old campaign that included a 6 1/2-length romp in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes. The Liam's Map colt, trained by Chad Summers, has posted three consecutive bullet works at Belmont Park, including a blistering four furlongs in :46.79. Since 1991, eight horses have won both the Preakness and Haskell, including Journalism last year.
The Puma returns after Kentucky Derby scratch
The Puma, scratched from the Kentucky Derby, returns after a nearly four-month layoff. He finished second by a nose in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, earning a 97 Equibase Speed Figure that ties for the highest last-out figure in the field. His training pattern has been strong, including a bullet five furlongs in :59.30. However, winning a Grade 1 off a long layoff is a tall task, though his talent is undeniable.
Other contenders and local interest
Baby Vino won the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth by 10 3/4 lengths last time out and has won his last two starts by a combined 13 1/2 lengths. Iron Honor, runner-up in the Preakness, seeks his first win around two turns. Ocelli, the only maiden in the field, has $829,800 in earnings and finished third in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness.
For Iowa horse racing fans, the Haskell offers a preview of the Breeders' Cup Classic division and a chance to see top-tier talent that may eventually race at Prairie Meadows or other regional tracks. The race is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, with post time at 5:45 p.m. ET.
Win contenders in preference order
- Further Ado
- The Puma
- Napoleon Solo
This story was originally published by Paulick Report on July 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Horseplayers section.