Further Ado has faced two of his six Haskell Stakes adversaries and lost to them both. Normally that is not a recipe for bullishly backing the favorite in a Grade 1 race, but that is exactly what I am doing Saturday at Monmouth Park.
Perhaps it is Kentucky Derby selection bias, and loyal readers may remember my love affair with Tiz the Bomb. But there is everything to suggest that trainer Brad Cox has Further Ado expertly prepared for this off a scintillating Matt Winn (G3) victory following the Derby dud.
There is some question as to whether Further Ado just really likes Kentucky, given he is 4-for-5 there with a trio of stakes wins. He has no wins anywhere else, but that Tampa Bay Derby (G3) loss to fellow Haskell entrant The Puma was a fine effort for a 3-year-old debut.
The presence of the Preakness Stakes exacta of Napoleon Solo and Iron Honor should help us get our price on Further Ado. Throw in Preakness fourth Ocelli, the lovable maiden who finished well ahead of Further Ado when third in the Kentucky Derby, and that should attract money as well.
I see Napoleon Solo and Iron Honor as having similar chances here, but obviously backing Further Ado makes it hard to get excited about either one of them as an alternative. If Further Ado is closer to even money than his morning-line price of 2-1, then maybe Iron Honor becomes playable.
Haskell
Trainer
Morning line
Fair odds
1. Star Sweeper
Louis Linder Jr.
30-1
125-1
2. Further Ado
Brad Cox
2-1
3-2
3. Baby Vino
Lindsay Schultz
15-1
69-1
4. The Puma
Gustavo Delgado
7-2
8-1
5. Iron Honor
Chad Brown
3-1
4-1
6. Napoleon Solo
Chad Summers
5-2
5-1
7. Ocelli
Whit Beckman
6-1
9-1
