The 2021 running of the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes will be about as good as it can get without including a Triple Crown race winner. The connections of Medina Spirit, Rombauer, and Essential Quality have all decided to forgo the July feature at Monmouth, but several highly talented runners do more than enough to strengthen the field.
Where the Triple Crown winners are absent, the runner-ups are all in attendance. Hot Rod Charlie will go off as the likely favorite after a stunning place finish in the G1 Belmont Stakes. Meanwhile, Mandaloun (the potential Derby winner in time) and Midnight Bourbon round out a formidable group of familiar faces. Meanwhile, newcomer Following Sea is an interesting outsider stretching out for Todd Pletcher after a pair of blowout wins in sprints.