Tom Pedulla offers takeaways from the $1 million NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park, the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga Race Course and other recent major developments.

HUGE WIN: There was no clear leader in the 3-year-old male division before Saturday. Now, there is. Dornoch moved to the head of the class when he dug deep to turn back a still-green Mindframe in Saturday’s Haskell. It was his second consecutive Grade 1 score following the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and one that secured an automatic, fees-paid berth in the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Should Dornoch add the $1.25 million DraftKings Travers Stakes Aug. 24 at Saratoga in his next scheduled start, that might well be enough to lock up the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male. “If he can win the Travers, he can be 3-year-old champion,” trainer Danny Gargan said. “It would mean the world to me. It would mean the world for the horse because I believe in him that much.”

HUGE DECISION: Trainer Kenny McPeek faces a difficult call as he debates whether to test streaking Thorpedo Anna against the boys in the Travers or keep her within a division she continued to dominate by routing fillies in Saturday’s Coaching Club American Oaks. McPeek readily acknowledges his reputation as a gambling man. “I like challenges. I’d be sticking my neck out a little bit, but I think the sport could really enjoy seeing a filly take on the colts,” he said, adding, “I’ll look at the numbers, look at them really hard and try to make an educated decision if I think we can run with them.”

WHERE SURF MEETS TURF: Del Mar began its 85th summer racing season with an Opening Day sellout on Saturday. The crowd was capped at 20,000. The famed track, site of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2, will showcase numerous stars at the popular summer meet. Last year’s FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic winner Arabian Knight is to make his eagerly-anticipated 4-year-old debut in the July 27 in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap. Adare Manor is expected to target a repeat win in the Aug. 3 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes while speedy California-bred The Chosen Vron aims for back-to-back wins in the July 27 Bing Crosby Stakes.

Unmatched Wisdom winning Curlin Stakes. (NYRA/Coglianese photos)

ON TO TRAVERS: The Travers gained a probable starter when Unmatched Wisdom improved to 3-for-3 with a one-length victory against Corporate Power in Friday’s Curlin Stakes at Saratoga. Winning trainer Chad Brown thinks there is enough time for his blossoming 3-year-old to work himself into the mix at the top of the division. “You end up catching horses that are on the other end of the curve and may be regressing a little bit that started earlier in the year,” he said. “If he can keep developing and playing catch-up and a few of the other top ones regress just a bit, he could be in the mix.”

TAKING A SHOT: Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott weighed his options and decided it is now or never to find out whether Batten Down, a recent winner by 1 ¾ lengths of the Grade 3 Ohio Derby, can keep up with the fastest members of his class. The Juddmonte homebred son of Tapit is expected to compete in next Saturday’s $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes presented by Mohegan Sun at Saratoga. “When you have a horse like that, you look at all the options and think of where you fit,” Mott said. “We felt it was time to reach out and take a chance in the Jim Dandy.” Batten Down would need to make a strong showing to go on to the Travers.