Expert Pick of the Week: 2026 Haskell Stakes

Jul 16, 2026 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Napoleon Solo wins the Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

An excellent field of seven three-year-old horses will travel 1 1/8 miles over the Monmouth Park dirt surface in Saturday’s lucrative $1 million Haskell (G1). The Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ contest will reward the winner with an automatic berth into the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Napoleon Solo, who was an impressive winner of the Preakness (G1) at Laurel Park in his most recent endeavor, comes in as the second choice on the morning line for trainer Chad Summers. By rising Kentucky stallion Liam’s Map, the gray horse was really good as soon as he made it to the races as a two-year-old. He crushed his foes at first asking at Saratoga last summer, which preceded a dominant triumph in the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct to conclude his brief and unblemished juvenile season in 2025.

The bargain $40,000 yearling purchase was beaten in his first pair of runs to commence 2026 but got back to his winning ways in the Preakness and has posted some fast morning workouts in the interim. Napoleon Solo is super quick in the early stages of his races and figures to be the one to catch as he makes his Monmouth debut, and the cutback from 1 3/16 miles will also benefit him. The colt will be sent to the front by jockey Paco Lopez, who has been outstanding at the current meeting at Monmouth, evidenced by his superb 46% win rate.

Blue Grass (G1) romper Further Ado was empty late as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, but redeemed himself with a stylish win in the Matt Winn (G3) at Churchill Downs in his last run. Trained by Brad Cox, the standout son of top sire Gun Runner is four-for-eight in his career with a few jaw-dropping wins among his tallies, and the chestnut three-year-old has posted a pair of fast morning workouts in preparation for his first appearance at this track. Regular jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride the horse and have him close to the early pace from the start.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #6 Napoleon Solo on top of #2 Further Ado in the 2026 Haskell Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.