Haskell, Jim Dandy to establish clarity in 3-year-old division

The 3-year-old colts and geldings undeniably make up the glamour division in horse racing. They will take center stage this weekend in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park and the $500,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga.

The Triple Crown series did not establish a clear leader of the division. In fact, Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom was injured and is out for the season. However, Preakness victor Shackleford and Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice will head up the Haskell on Sunday.

In years when things are this topsy-turvy, the champion 3-year-old probably will be a colt who can win the Jim Dandy or Haskell, then repeat in the Travers on Aug. 27 at Saratoga. I see a colt capable of doing that who did not run in the Triple Crown this spring.

The late bloomer is Coil from the Bob Baffert barn. He's facing a stern test in the Haskell, but Baffert has history on his side. He has started four colts in the Haskell and won all four times.

Baffert is taking the blinkers off Coil, which tells me he'll want jockey Martin Garcia to take back early so he can finish stronger. In a field this evenly matched, tactics will play a key role in determining the outcome.

Shackleford (5-2) is the Haskell favorite, followed by Coil (3-1), Pants On Fire (4-1) and Ruler On Ice (4-1). ABC Sports will televise the Haskell live, with a 2:43 p.m. PDT post time.

The Jim Dandy at Saratoga on Saturday is just as wide open as the Haskell. Four colts are closely bunched in the morning line. Belmont Stakes runner-up Stay Thirsty (5-2) is favored, followed by Dominus (3-1), Brilliant Speed (7-2) and Alternation (7-2) in the seven-horse field.

The hot horse in the Jim Dandy might be Dwyer winner Dominus, from trainer Steve Asmussen. With four career starts, Dominus is lightly raced but improving mightily with each start. There is no telling where his ceiling is.

If the pace is too quick early, the best closer in the Jim Dandy is Brilliant Speed, who ran third in the Belmont.

■ HANDICAPPING CHALLENGE -- The $150,000 Guaranteed Race Handicapping Challenge is set for Aug. 5 and 6 at Wynn Las Vegas. The entry fee is a high $2,000, but so is the prize money.

The real carrot is the top two finishers receive a free berth into the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship in January at Treasure Island. The two contest tracks will be Saratoga and Del Mar.

Richard Eng's horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com.