Ocelli: Post 7; Morning Line: 6-1
Trainer: Whit Beckman; Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Ocelli – 2026 Haskell Stakes Profile
Horse: Ocelli
Pedigree: Connect-Zalia, by Scat Daddy
Owners: Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate, Front Page Equestrian
Trainer: Whit Beckman
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Post Position: 7
Morning Line Odds: 6-1
Running Style: Closer
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 99
Career Record: 9-0-2-4
Career Earnings: $829,800
Race: $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1), Monmouth Park (59th running)
Distance: 1 1/8 miles (dirt)
Last race: 2nd Ohio Derby (G3), Thistledown (June 20)
A horse doesn't have to finish first to enrich the people who own him. Ocelli rarely runs a bad one, but he never wins. He's been second twice and third four times in nine starts and earned $829,200, making him the richest maiden in the history of North American racing. Considering he cost only $12,000 as a yearling, he's one of the greatest bargains of all time.
This closer is quite the teaser, because twice in deep stretch of a stakes he was in front before being caught. In the Kentucky Derby (G1), this 70-1 shot's late move was a shocking flashback to Rich Strike's 80-1 upset in the 2022 Derby. Ocelli briefly led at the sixteenth pole before Golden Tempo and Renegade passed the colt who was a popular pick to come in last.
After finishing fourth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and skipping the Belmont Stakes (G1), Ocelli did a frustrating Derby encore in his most recent race. Just like at Churchill Downs, he came from far back early and looked like a winner in midstretch of the Ohio Derby on June 20 at Thistledown. Ocelli was in front by a length at the eighth pole but was overtaken by Chip Honcho, who beat him by a length.
He's back for the Haskell, a "Win and You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Deep closers historically have been at a disadvantage at speed-favoring Monmouth Park, but trainer Whit Beckman expressed tepid optimism.
"He's run well shipping to different tracks, he's run well against these horses before," Beckman said. "He was competitive against [Preakness winner] Napoleon Solo and Iron Honor on a pretty biased track [Laurel]."
Before the Ohio Derby, Beckman said: "He's had a tough campaign.
He's run in extremely salty races all the way through. He's performed well. He's done everything he needs to do for us to know he's in the right spots."
All true, but not much consolation for anybody who's made a win wager on Ocelli. He's an ATM for his connections but a money burner for his bettors.
As usual, he'll have to rally from far back, which rarely works at Monmouth. Closers have won the Haskell, but Ocelli will need everything to work in his favor. Even if that happens, can he finally finish the deal?
Ocelli's best chance for that elusive first win is to sit back and hope Napoleon Solo and Further Ado battle for the lead in quick fractions. If so, maybe Saturday will be his day.
He's a must-use underneath in all the exotics, but a win bet doesn't make much sense. In a relatively short field, he'll offer little value in the win pool.
-- By Ed McNamara
Ed McNamara is an award-winning racing writer who has covered the sport since 1981 for The Bergen (N.J.) Record, Newsday, ESPN, Thorocap, and USRacing. He is the author of Cajun Racing: From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown and Racing Around the World, and a contributor to The Most Glorious Crown and The Racetracks of America. He has also written for racing publications in France and Italy.
