Trainer Todd Pletcher will try to win the Haskell Stakes for the fourth time when he sends out the up-and-coming Following Sea in the 2021 Haskell Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. The 54-year-old Pletcher, who will be inducted into racing's Hall of Fame next month, won the race in 2006 (Bluegrass Cat), '07 (Any Given Saturday) and '13 (Verrazano). His three wins are tied for second most all-time, behind Bob Baffert's nine Haskell wins.
On Saturday Pletcher will try for No. 4 with Following Sea, who is listed at 3-1 in the 2021 Haskell Stakes odds. Belmont Stakes runner-up Hot Rod Charlie is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the seven-horse Haskell Stakes 2021 field. Post time for the $1 million Haskell is 5:47 p.m. ET. Before making any 2021 Haskell Stakes picks, you need to see what legendary handicapper Hammerin' Hank Goldberg is saying.
The former horse racing analyst for ESPN and NBC, Goldberg became a legendary handicapper by going straight to the source. In 2004, he had dinner before the Belmont Stakes with trainer Nick Zito at a pizzeria in Queens. The dinner led Goldberg to play Zito's 36-1 monster long shot Birdstone to win and on top of his exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets. When Birdstone shocked the world, Goldberg won $24,000.
His success has continued at SportsLine. In the San Felipe Stakes in March of last year, Hammer gave out a $20 exacta that paid 9-1. In the Belmont Stakes last June, Goldberg was all over Tiz the Law, who scored a convincing victory in the year's first Triple Crown race. In the 2020 Blue Grass Stakes, Hammer nailed the Art Collector-Swiss Skydiver exacta. Last July, he hit the Authentic-Ny Traffic exacta in the Haskell. In August in the Pacific Classic, he gave out the Maximum Security-Sharp Samurai exacta.
Goldberg also has a strong gauge on this year's three-year-olds. He hit the Essential Quality-Hot Rod Charlie exacta in last month's Belmont Stakes. Anyone who has followed Goldberg's lead is way up.
Now, Goldberg has studied the 2021 Haskell Stakes horses and released his picks and analysis only at SportsLine.
Top 2021 Haskell Stakes predictions
One surprise: After breaking down the pace scenario and looking at every horse in the race, the Hammer is taking a stance against Mandaloun even though he is one of the favorites at 2-1 on the morning line. Trained by Brad Cox, this bay colt has won four races and more than $1.05 million in his career. In his last race he won Monmouth Park's Pegasus Stakes, which serves as the prep race for the Haskell.
But in that race Mandaloun had a surprisingly difficult time putting away a lightly-regarded field, winning only by a desperate neck. Goldberg does not think that effort suggests he will do well on Saturday. "He is obviously talented, but will he be ready to run his best against this field?" Goldberg said to SportsLine. Goldberg sees better values for 2021 Haskell Stakes bets.
How to make 2021 Haskell Stakes picks
Instead, Hammer's top choice is a horse who has the perfect "running style for nine furlongs." He's sharing his predictions for the top 2021 Haskell Stakes contenders here.
Who wins the Haskell Stakes 2021? Which horse is a must-back? And how has Goldberg constructed his wagers? Check out the 2021 Haskell Stakes odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Goldberg's picks for the 2021 Haskell Stakes.
2021 Haskell Stakes odds
| Program # | Horse | Odds |
| 1 | Following Sea | 3-1 |
| 2 | Antigravity | 30-1 |
| 3 | Mandaloun | 2-1 |
| 4 | Hot Rod Charlie | 6-5 |
| 5 | Pickin' Time | 20-1 |
| 6 | Midnight Bourbon | 9-2 |
| 7 | Basso | 30-1 |
