Forty Niner Wins Haskell by Nose After Outlasting Seeking The Gold

OCEANPORT, N.J. —  Kentucky Derby runner-up Forty Niner outlasted Seeking The Gold by a nose Saturday to win the $500,000 Haskell Invitational Handicap at Monmouth Park.

Ridden for the first time by Laffit Pincay, Forty Niner covered the 1 1/8-mile course in 1:47 3/5, which was three-fifths of a second off the stakes record set last year by Bet Twice. The son of Mr. Prospector paid $3.60, $2.20 and $2.20 in winning for the fourth time in nine starts this year.

“He is a real gutsy horse,” trainer Woody Stephens said. “He has always fought back. He likes it when there is another horse with him. He will fight him.”

Forty Niner and Seeking The Gold, who finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby, battled for most of the race.

Forty Niner, who carried top weight of 126 pounds, took the lead at the start and stayed there through the first quarter-mile, with Seeking The Gold, ridden by Pat Day, a close second in the five-horse field.

Heading into the clubhouse turn, jockey Julie Krone rushed up from last place with Teddy Drone, split the two leaders and forged into the lead.

Teddy Drone stayed in front until the half-mile pole, when Pincay moved Forty Niner into the lead. Day responded by moving Seeking The Gold, carrying 125 pounds, alongside the leader.

The two entered the stretch as a tandem and were never more than a bob of a head apart, with Day whipping and driving and Pincay just showing Forty Niner the whip.

Seeking The Gold paid $2.60 and $2.80, while Primal finished third and returned $3.20.

The win was worth $300,000 to Claiborne Farm.