The $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) on Saturday (July 20) at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey, is the first major race for 3-year-olds following the Triple Crown. usracing.com is publishing profiles on the contenders.
2024 Haskell Stakes Contenders: JUST STEP ON IT
Perhaps motivated by a last out win in allowance optional claimer, the owners stepped up with a $25,000 supplemental entry fee to take part in the Haskell.
Monmouth Park Photo
Will Just Step On It win his first stakes in the Haskell?
While this 3-year-old son of Accelerate may have Grade 1 bloodlines, a huge step up to the Haskell is likely asking way too much.
The New York bred is trained by Louis Linder, Jr., who has won more than 650 races in his 20-plus year career but has yet to win a graded stakes race.
Just Step On It, who does get the services of jockey Florent Geroux, opened his career with two runner-up finishes in California before being claimed and shipped to the mid-Atlantic region, where he had four starts at Parx Racing and three at Aqueduct.
In his only stakes appearance, he ran fourth – 9 ½ lengths back – in the 1-mile, 70-yard City of Brotherly Love Stakes at Park in March.
For those who bet horse racing, a toss.
2024 Haskell Stakes Odds and Post Positions: Just Step On It
Post position: 2
Odds: 30-1
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Trainer: Lou Linder, Jr.
Owners: Bran Jam Stable, David Clark
Career record: 9-3-2-0
Career earnings: $121,150
Last race: Allowance optional claimer, June 24 (1st)
Top Equibase speed figure: 91
Pedigree: Accelerate-Shea Darby, by Street Sense
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker
Notes: Purchased for $23,000 at the 2-year-old Ocala Breeders’ sale of 2-year-olds in training … Geroux won the Haskell twice, aboard Cyberknife in 2022, and Mandaloun (via disqualification) in 2021.
| 1 | Dornoch | 5-2 | Luis Saez | Danny Gargan |
| 2 | Jasper’s Pride | 30-1 | Chuck Spina | Robert Reid, Jr. |
| 3 | Tuscan Sky | 9-2 | Javier J. Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher |
| 4 | Timberlake | 8-1 | Brad H. Cox | Flavien Prat |
| 5 | Fierceness | 5-2 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher |
| 6 | Just Step On It | 30-1 | Florent Geroux | Louis C. Linder Jr. |
| 7 | Mindframe | 15-1 | Joel Rosario | D.Wayne Lukas |
| 8 | Sea Streak | 20-1 | Jairo A. Rendon. | Eddie Owens Jr. |
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
