By RICHARD ROSENBLATT

AP Racing Writer

OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) Just before the start of Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, War Emblem reared up in the gate, causing newlywed trainer Bob Baffert a few anxious moments.

But jockey Victor Espinoza settled down the black colt in the nick of time, and War Emblem zoomed to the front in a commanding wire-to-wire, 3½-length victory before a near-record crowd of 45,212 that showed up in near-90 degree heat.

Baffert's concern was genuine - the last time his Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner ran, War Emblem stumbled at the start of the Belmont Stakes and finished eighth in his bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

"Victor said one of the starters grabbed War Emblem's ear," Baffert said. "You can't do anything like that with this horse."

Espinoza said he told the starter to stay away from War Emblem. "I told him to `leave him alone,"' Espinoza said. "He was nice and relaxed when he wasn't bothered. The guy listened, and the gate crew did a great job."

War Emblem wasn't bothered by any of his five rivals, including Preakness runner-up Magic Weisner, who was second again.

"I'm glad War Emblem showed up today," said Baffert, who was married Saturday night in Coronado, Calif., and arrived at Monmouth about 3 p.m. EDT. "The fans were really cheering him on. There's a lot of pressure that goes with it, but he's been training great, we brought him here and he showed his stuff. That's the War Emblem we all know."

Richard Mulhall, racing manager for The Thoroughbred Corp., which owns War Emblem, said the colt will be returned to California and is likely to race next in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 25 against older horses. However, Mulhall said the Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 24 is also an option.

Like A Hero was third, followed by Puck and Mr. Mellon. Nine horses were entered, but Medaglia d'Oro, Easyfromthegitgo and Peekskill raced instead in the Jim Dandy. Medaglia d'Oro won the Jim Dandy by 13 3-4 lengths. Island Skipper was scratched on Saturday with an ankle injury.

In the Haskell, War Emblem was back to his front-running self. Just like he did in winning the Kentucky Derby, War Emblem got off to a flying start.

The colt went right to the front, just off the rail. Puck was inside, a half-length behind. War Emblem maintained the advantage into the first turn, then moved off to nearly a three-length lead along the backstretch.

At the far turn, War Emblem remained in control and opened a four-length margin entering the stretch. Magic Weisner, under new rider Mike Luzzi, had no chance to catch War Emblem.

"He tries hard everytime," Magic Weisner's owner/trainer Nancy Albert said. "He ran awesome."

War Emblem has seven wins in 11 career starts. Racing for the first time since the July 22 death of owner Saudi Prince Ahmed bin Salman, War Emblem earned $600,000 and boosted his earnings to $3,491,000.

Winning time for the race was 1:48.21. War Emblem, sent off as the overwhelming 3-10 favorite, returned $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10.

Magic Weisner returned $2.80 and $2.10. Like A Hero paid $2.10 to show. There was a minus show pool of $26,602.

War Emblem became the first Kentucky Derby winner to take the Haskell. Four tried before him.

The Haskell crowd was the second largest in track history. Last year's Haskell drew 47,127.

Baffert has had a roller-coaster two weeks since the death of Prince Ahmed. First War Emblem was in the Haskell, then out, then in again.

Then came news Baffert was paid a $50,000 appearance fee by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which operates Monmouth, for bringing War Emblem to the Haskell.

Baffert was paid the same amount last year for bringing Point Given to the Haskell, but the deal was never made public. Point Given, who won the 2001 Preakness and Belmont, won the Haskell.

Baffert said Sunday the fee was offered after the Belmont, and was never a consideration in determining whether to bring War Emblem to the Jersey shore.

"To some, it might sound unethical to run if your only intent is to get the fee," Baffert said. "Hey, we came here to win a $1 million race."

And that's exactly what happened.

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