“BUDA” AND “HALO” HEADLINE RICH HASKELL

New York – Middle Jewel Winner Fly For Buda and dual Grade 1 winner Squal Me Halo lead a stellar field of fourteen three year olds going postward in the $1,000,000 Eddie Haskell Stakes (G1) at ten furlongs on the main track. The race headlines a stellar New York Card this week and is slated as race thirteen.

Trainer gg has conditioned Fly For Buda through a masterful three year old season, including three Grade 1 victories. He exits two straight 2^nd place finishes after his Middle Jewel score and has yet to miss the board this season. His usual rider, F Gossett, stays in California this week, but he adds top local jock, N Lawton. A win or second here by Fly For Buda would push the son of Sadler’s Wells to the #1 divisional ranking. He leaves from post 6 at 5/1 odds and certainly is the top choice.

If not for the presence of Fly For Buda, Squal Me Halo, exiting a Grade 1 win at 9f furlongs in Kentucky, would be the morning line choice for trainer binzaman. He used a stalking journey to capture the It’s My Birthday and I’ll Cry if I Want To Stakes over an incredible ten Graded winners. He actually meets a slightly softer field here and could be the pace setter, depending on the early speed. His 4 ¼ length victory in the G1 Chicago Derby came on the lead, and jockey R Foster may give the millionaire son of Summer Squall the same opportunity this time.

Another early pace factor will be sdmforlife’s One Bold Rush, a son of Strike Gold, who has only recently jumped into the Graded waters, with a strong, late charging second to Diamond Head in the G2 Buckeye Derby in his last effort. The third choice at 8/1, distance will not be a problem for the colt, twice a stakes winner at twelve furlongs, and he proved his class with that last effort. He is expected to contend with Squal Me Halo early on and how he handles that early battle is likely to determine his finish.

The versatile colt Brilliant, a stakes winner on both surfaces, is rated at 9/1 on the morning line. He has run his last two in New York, finishing a strong second in both efforts at 12f for trainer vsmdinc. Jockey B Child jumps back on again for the late running son of Fantastic Light. He has a solid record, but this is his toughest test yet for class, after exiting a restricted series. He is graded placed this season on the dirt and has shown an affinity to the New York surface. He certainly is one to keep an eye on, especially if the early pace is hot.

The deep field gives us five different horses at 10/1 with a variety of running styles and pedigrees. Leaving from the rail at 10/1 is squirrel4’s hard charging son of Deputy Minister, Solar Song, who had his five race win streak snapped in his last try, a disappointing effort in the Buckeye Derby. Prior to that race, in which he may have been shuffled too far back early, he swept the NWRC Owner Restricted Triple Crown series, always storming down the stretch. His last race may be a bit of anomaly, but it was his first try against Graded company. He must now redeem himself and may have the running style to get it done.

The brilliant Deputy Commander colt, Prince Murf, from jimsar stables, was a darling of the Triple Crown preps, stringing together six wins in a row, including a pair of impressive G2 wins in Louisiana and California. However, the his forays in Grade 1 company, in the California Derby and in all three Triple Crown races, met with a bit of disappointment, as he was unable to take his usual stalking position in the bulky fields. Those efforts have led to his 10/1 morning line odds, but if he can return to form, he is as talented as any in the field. There may be some questions as to rather 10f is the best distance for him, but trainer jimsar is determined to find out on Saturday.

Another at 10/1 is dixiedotco’s Sensationalize, a horse of whom great things were predicted early on, as he has the same breeding as super star, Sunnybank Memorial. He jumped right into stakes after his maiden breaking score and proceeded to place in two important Graded Derby Preps in his next two starts. He has only been able to manage a pair of third place finishes recently, as he seems to get stuck towards the back of the pack early. It will be interesting to see if new jockey, N Painter, will attempt to get this colt in better early position.

The beautifully bred K’s Inkognito, from the barn of kuovadis, is also listed at 10/1 after destroying the Dubai racing scene. Since being switched to the main track, he has four wins and a second in five allowance starts in Dubai. While this is his first effort outside of allowance company, the dominance he demonstrated in those races, validates his chances in this field. His only loss on the main track was to the Graded placed Captain Kangaroo, so his résumé is strong. A win here, could brand this one as a superstar in the making.

The final horse at 10/1, is the aggressively campaigned, Zigs In Seattle, a Danzig colt from trainer bullman. His last four starts have been in allowance races, including a victory over older horses. He competed against the best early in the season, finishing second in the Grade 2 Chief Snow Handicap in California. This looked like a good spot for the colt, who will be another in the early pace factor.

In such a deep field, even horses with higher odds can not be ignored. The 13/1 Geodesic Quark, trained by derbyrun, only recently broke his maiden in the tough Kentucky racing scene. He has parlayed that into an allowance victory over older horses and sensational 109 speed figure in his last effort, to win the Deal Slew Handicap over three year olds. A continued improvement could make him the second Graded winning son of Exploit in sim history.

A horse in the midst of a form spree is gowand9’s Go For Dyna, who has four wins in his last seven trips to the track. He has shown dominance at longer distances, winning an 11f stakes by 7 ½ lengths. He will also be fighting for the early lead, and it will be interesting to see if he can handle this class of horse.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is roelke’s Principle Skinner, who has been battling Graded company as of late, but has two straight off the board finishes. He finished second here to the good Kris Noia in the PD New York (G2) and has Derby winning jockey, R Haffner in the irons, so a shocker is not out of the question.

The longest shot in the field is the 26/1 Incredible Image (IRE), from the barn of cald1. Another allowance champion, this colt will need to increase his speed figures to compete for the top honors here, but his late charging style may allow for him to grab a piece of the pie at the end. Stablemate to the half millionaire Demon of the Bayou(GB), would love to add even minor spoils in this race.

Completing the field is Mt. Jagged, who has recorded three straight wins for trainer devastate. Devastate made the switch from the turf and increased the distance for this colt and he is in good form right now. His two stakes victories have been at 11 furlongs, so he will have to make that late run a bit earlier.

Fly For Buda and Squal Me Halo may be the main attractions, but this race also has horses seeking redemption like Prince Murf or looking to put their name on the map, such as K’s Inkognito and Solar Song. Add to that the expected quick early pace, and this is certainly one to watch on Saturday. Complete entries can be found below, for the $1,000,000 Grade 1, Eddie Haskell Stakes.