2023 Haskell Stakes contenders, post positions, odds, Monmouth Park best bets by expert who nailed Belmont
Bob Weir has studied the 2023 Haskell Stakes field featuring Mage, Arabian Knight, Tapit Trice and locked in his picks
By
CBS Sports Staff
•
3 min read
The 2023 Haskell Stakes will anchor a day-long race schedule at Monmouth Park in New Jersey on Saturday, marking the first major race during the second half of the three-year-old season. The winner of Saturday's eight-horse 2023 Haskell Stakes lineup will earn a berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic in November. Arabian Knight is the 5-2 favorite in the 2023 Haskell Stakes odds, followed by Mage (3-1) and Tapit Trice (3-1). Which horses should you include in your 2023 Haskell Stakes bets? Arabian Knight, trained by Bob Baffert, has not run since late January, but showcased dominant early-season form. Tapit Trice, trained by Todd Pletcher, finished third in the Belmont Stakes, while Mage won the Kentucky Derby.
Post time for the $1 million Haskell 2023 is 5:45 p.m. ET. With several accomplished horses set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you'll want to see what Saratoga Springs-based racing insider and Beyer Speed Figure maker Bob Weir has to say before making any 2023 Haskell Stakes picks.
A member of the Beyer Speed Figure-making team, Weir is a two-time qualifier for the prestigious National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas. He has produced multiple five-figure days at the track over the years, including a $60,000 Pick 6 at Del Mar in 2014.
Last year, he was red-hot in the Triple Crown prep races, hitting the superfecta in the Blue Grass Stakes for $1,678 and exactas in the Fountain of Youth Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby. He also hit the 19-1 winner of the Man o' War Stakes, the trifecta in the Pegasus World Cup, the superfecta in the Met Mile and multiple Pick 4s.
In April of this year, he hit a Pick 4 at Gulfstream Park for $641, the exacta in the Florida Derby, a Pick 5 at Keeneland and the exacta in the Lexington Stakes. He smashed the trifecta in the Belmont Stakes for $532.96, and later in June he crushed the Pick 4 at Belmont for $555. Those are just some of his scores this year.
Now, he has handicapped the 2023 Haskell Stakes lineup, made his picks and constructed his bets. You can head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top Haskell Stakes predictions
One surprise: Weir is high on Geaux Rocket Ride, even though he's an underdog at 9-2. Arabian Knight is expected to set the pace up front and could have the lead for most of the race. Tapit Trice needs another horse to disrupt Arabian Knight's pace, which is not an advantageous position for one of the favorites.
Tapit Trice made headlines when he won four straight races heading into the Kentucky Derby, but he finished a distant seventh at Churchill Downs before coming in third at the Belmont Stakes. He failed to live up to his billing against elite Triple Crown fields, and will face a field of similar quality on Saturday. Weir is happy to toss Tapit Trice and look at different 2023 Haskell Stakes horses.
Another stunner: Weir is fading Tapit Trice, one of the top favorites, leaving him out of his win and exacta bets entirely. After winning four of his first five starts, including graded-stakes wins at the Tampa Bay Derby and Blue Grass Stakes, Tapit Trice's shine has dimmed after a disappointing Triple Crown season.
He went off as second favorite in the Kentucky Derby, but needed a late rally just to finish seventh. Then, he was among the betting favorites because of his distance pedigree in the Belmont Stakes and found himself out of position late again, needing a rally to get to third. You can see all of Weir's 2023 Haskell Stakes bets here.
How to make Haskell Stakes picks
Moreover, Weir's top pick is a deep sleeper who was "was extremely impressive" in his last race. Weir is only sharing his analysis and which horses to back at SportsLine.
So who wins the Haskell Stakes, and which sleeper is a must-back? Check out the latest Haskell Stakes odds 2023 below, then visit SportsLine to see Weir's picks for the Haskell Stakes, and find out.
| Prg # | Horse | Odds | Projection |
| 1 | Geaux Rocket Ride | 9-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 2 | Awesome Strong | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 3 | Salute the Stars | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 4 | Mage | 3-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 5 | Tapit Trice | 3-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 6 | Howgreatisnate | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 7 | Extra Anejo | 5-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 8 | Arabian Knight | 5-2 | SEE PICKS |
