The $1,250,000 Haskell Invitational (G1) is the biggest race at Monmouth Park, with a field of 7 top 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles. Due to rains earlier in the card, the track was sloppy and temperatures were in the upper 70's. Rachel Alexandra was sent off as the 1-2 favorite exiting wins in both the Preakness Stakes and the Mother Goose last out, over Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird at 4-1 and Tom Fool winner Munnings at 5-1.
Rachel Alexandra bobbled slightly at the start as Munnings went to the lead early to set a brisk pace of 22.99, 46.43, and 1:09.92 under jockey John Velazquez. Jockey Calvin Borel hustled Rachel Alexandra up to challenge on the clubhouse turn, while Summer Bird and jockey Kent Desormeaux sat comfortably behind them in third. Entering the stretch, Rachel Alexandra easily took over the lead, opening up a 5 length lead at the 1/8 pole through 1 mile in 1:34.29, and continued to widen late, cruising under the line under wraps 6 lengths in front of Summer Bird in 1:47.21. It was another length back to Munnings third.
