SARATOGA SPRINGS – Gemologist, the Wood Memorial winner who suffered his first defeat finishing 16th in the Kentucky Derby and then was sidelined with a bruised foot, will make his return in Sunday’s Grade 1, $1 million Haskell at Monmouth Park, opting for that race over Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga, trainer Todd Pletcher said Wednesday.
“He is going to run,” Pletcher said “He has been training extremely well, and we are very pleased with how he is coming into the race.”
Gemologist heads for the Haskell off a pair of bullet workouts at the Old Spa, most recently five furlongs in :58.40 on Sunday, in company with 2011 Dwyer winner Dominus.
“I thought he breezed as well as he’s ever breezed, and he’s always been a good work horse,” Pletcher said.
Gemologist’s owner, WinStar Farm, won the Haskell back-to-back in 2006-2007 with Blue Grass Cat and Any Given Saturday, both trained by Pletcher. Regular rider Javier Castellano has the mount.
The Haskell will be run as the 13th race on a 14-race card; post time is 6:17 p.m.