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: SEA STREAK
The last New Jersey-bred to win the Haskell Stakes was Thanks to Tony in 1980. Sea Streak will make a longshot bid to give hometown horse players another local winner on Saturday.
Sea Streak. Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
It won’t be easy, and it’s unlikely as the bay gelding takes a huge step up against the likes of Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch, and probably two of trainer Todd Pletcher’s top 3-year-olds.
Nonetheless, Sea Streak has a worthy resume with six in-the-money finishes in eight starts for trainer Eddie Owens, Jr. After a 7 ¼-length romp in the 1-mile, 70-yard Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park, Sea Streak ran fifth as the favorite in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth on June 15, more than 12 lengths behind winner Tuscan Sky, one of Pletcher’s Haskell runners.
Owens told the Asbury Park Press that running in the Pegasus was a mistake, adding that he told jockey Jairo Rendon to go for the lead early, but the gelding wound up five-wide throughout with horses on his inside doing the same.
“Nothing really bothers him,” Owens told the Press. “Everything I put him through, he comes back looking like he is stronger and better. There’s just something about him.”
There may be, but not a win in the Haskell.
2024 Haskell Stakes Odds and Post Positions: Sea Streak
Post position: 8
Odds: 20-1
Jockey: Jairo Rendon
Trainer: Eddie Owens, Jr.
Owners: Holly Crest Farm
Career record: 8-2-3-1
Career earnings: $204,110
Last race: Pegasus Stakes, June 15 (5th)
Top Equibase speed figure: 105
Pedigree: Sea Wizard-High Noon Nellie, by Silver Deputy
Color: Bay
Running style: Closer
Notes: The Long Branch win earned Sea Streak an automatic berth in the Haskell … He ran seventh in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, beaten 8 ¼ lengths, in February … Owner/breeder Vincent Annarella, breeding and racing in Jersey since the 1960’s, told the Press: “Running in the Haskell has always been something special, especially if you are a Jersey breeder. We’ve been very fortunate to have a nice horse like Sea Streak. Whether he is the caliber of the horses coming down from Saratoga, we don’t know.”