Gosger's Haskell Bid Special to NJ Native Clarke
Adding the hardware from the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park to the trophy case would be a dream realized for any horseman, but it would be a most prized possession for a Jersey guy. “It would mean a lot. It would be great to win the biggest race close to us,” said Fair Lawn, N.J., native Scott Clarke, the son of the late noted owner and breeder Harvey A. Clarke, whose racing stable owns Haskell contender Gosger. Clarke’s mother, Donna, now heads the racing and breeding operation, which includes Gosger, a homebred who is the 9-2 third choice in the morning line for the July 19 Haskell. “We’ve come to the Haskell before, but this is the first time we’ve had a horse run in it,” said the 35-year-old Clarke, who has taken over his dad’s A.J. Clarke Real Estate in New York City and inherited his passion for the sport from his father. “This is very special. The Haskell carries a lot of weight.” The Brendan Walsh-trained Gosger, winner of Keeneland's Lexington Stakes (G3) in April, is no lightweight in the tough field of eight 3-year-olds that includes Preakness Stakes (G1) hero Journalism and Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Burnham Square. “He’s a half to grade 1 winner Harvey’s Lil Goil and he’s out of a half to (2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner) I’ll Have Another,” Clarke said. “He’s got a great brain. He’s cool. Nothing bothers him. He’s just a really nice horse. “This horse is a joy. From the time he was very small, we’ve always had high hopes for him.” Gosger enters the Haskell off a narrow half-length defeat in the May 17 Preakness won by Journalism, the early 4-5 favorite in the Haskell field. Under Luis Saez, Gosger had opened up in midstretch and looked like the sure winner but then gave way grudgingly to the determined Journalism as that rival staged a furious rally. “He ran a hell of a race in the Preakness,” said Walsh, who was on the grounds Friday to supervise final preparations. “It took a very good horse to come by us. I think my horse ran an ‘A’ race.” Now Gosger, who has a record of 2-2-0 in four starts and has earned $692,200, gets a rematch with Journalism, who then ran second in the Belmont Stakes (G1) to Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sovereignty. The Preakness was run at 1 3/16 miles while the Haskell is contested at 1 1/8 miles. “I think with this race being a little bit shorter, it’s going to be a positive for us,” Walsh said. “The Preakness was only our fourth run. I think the horse has been improving physically all through the year and I think he’ll improve again tomorrow, and I think he’ll even improve after tomorrow. “We’ve got a lot of boxes checked. Whether he’ll be good enough, we’ll find out tomorrow. Obviously, we came here because we think we have a chance tomorrow. Anybody that beats us is going to have to bring their running shoes.”