Peace rules in Haskell

Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide could manage only third place behind Peace Rules in the Grade One Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in America.

The gelding, who also won the Preakness Stakes, could finish only a distant third in his first race since finishing third to Empire Maker in the Belmont Stakes in June.

Peace Rules, who was third in the Derby and fourth in the Preakness, made just about all the running under Edgar Prado in the nine-furlong event.

He was soon clear of the field and only Sky Mesa rallied in the straight to finish a non-threatening second while Funny Cide, who was sent off the even-money favourite, broke slowly and raced near the back of the pack before launching a belated rally, finishing seven and a quarter lengths behind Sky Mesa.

“He had been training really well, the works indicate that,” trainer Bobby Frankel told www.thoroughbredtimes.com.

Frankel is now considering a crack at the Grade One Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 23.

“I have to think about running him in the Travers,” he added.

“If Peace Rules does go in the Travers, that’s going to make the race really interesting. But, I don’t know if he is going to be able to get the mile and a quarter.”

Frankel could be double-handed in that race as Empire Maker is still on course for the race despite finishing only second to Strong Hope in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.

Empire Maker, who was making his first start since winning the Belmont, was settled towards the back early on by Jerry Bailey as Strong Hope took up the early lead.

Todd Pletcher’s charge was still in front entering the straight as Bailey unleashed Empire Maker but his rally came up a little short in the $500,000 (€443,000) event.

Strong Hope is a half-brother to the David Nicholls-trained sprinter Bahamian Pirate and Pletcher said of his runner: “You’ve got to give this horse a lot of credit: he runs hard and keeps going. He’s a big horse that took a while to come to hand. Physically, he’s matured a lot.”

Frankel was not disappointed with Empire Maker’s run and added: “It looked like he was going to finish third. Then he took off in the last sixteenth of a mile.

“I don’t feel that bad about losing this race. I think this race will set him up for the Travers.”