The Puma: Post 4; Morning Line 7-2
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado; Jockey: Luis Saez
Wednesday, July 14, 2026
The Puma – 2026 Haskell Stakes Profile
Horse: The Puma
Pedigree: Essential Quality-Eve of War, by Declaration of War
Owners: OGMA Investments, JR Racing, High Step Investments
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
Jockey: Luis Saez
Post Position: 4
Morning Line Odds: 7-2
Running Style: Closer
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 97
Career Record: 4-1-2-1
Career Earnings: $442,280
Race: $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1), Monmouth Park (59th running)
Distance: 1 1/8 miles (dirt)
Last race: 2nd Florida Derby (G1), Gulfstream Park (March 28)
Trainer Gustavo Delgado dazzled the racing world in the 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1), which 15-1 shot Mage won after not racing as a 2-year-old. This year Delgado tried to do it again with The Puma, but the racing gods canceled the sequel.
The colt had to be scratched the morning of the Derby because of a swollen pastern caused by a leg infection. What made it even more frustrating was The Puma was a buzz horse and considered a live longshot at 10-1 in the morning line.
He returned to full training June 6 and has been working out impressively at Delgado's Gulfstream Park base. His 5-furlong breeze in 59.30 seconds on July 11 should set him up well for his first race in 112 days.
Overcoming a 16-week layoff is a major challenge, and although The Puma has never run a bad one, he has only one win in four starts. He broke his maiden third time out in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (G3), then missed by a nose March 28 in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby (G1). The quality is there, but this is a big ask. Will rust be a factor?
He'll also be without regular rider Javier Castellano, who suffered a lower back injury July 3 in a four-horse spill at Saratoga. Xxxxx Wwwww will replace the 48-year-old Hall of Famer.
The Puma's ideal script would be to run in mid-pack, behind the first flight but not too far back. The faster the early fractions are, the more his chances improve.
The long layoff, not talent, is the main obstacle. If you can get 5-1 or better, play him to win. Anything lower than that doesn't offer much value.
--- 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.
