The Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held at Monmouth Park in New Jersey for the first time this October. The signature race at the Jersey Shore oval is the $1 million Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. It is usually a rematch of some veterans of the Triple Crown wars, and the 2007 renewal was no exception, as Preakness winner and Belmont runner-up Curlin was sent off as the 9-10 favorite in the field of seven, with Any Given Saturday, 8th in the Kentucky Derby but a runaway winner of the Dwyer last out, as the 9-5 second choice. Derby runner-up Hard Spun rounded out the top 3 on the board as the 5-1 third choice, coming off a fourth place effort in the Belmont.
Soon after the start, 10-1 local hope Cable Boy was sent to the front by regular jockey Jose Velez Jr. and he opened up a 1 1/2-length lead on the clubhouse turn. Hard Spun and Any Given Saturday raced in stalking position through fractions of 23.49, 47.11, and 1:10.70 over the fast track. Favorite Curlin sat in fifth down the backstretch having saved ground on the clubhouse turn. Entering the stretch, Cable Boy faded from contention due to his fast pace which allowed Hard Spun to briefly poke his head in front, as Garrett Gomez moved Any Given Saturday three-wide to make his run. Any Given Saturday and Hard Spun battled briefly from the 1/4 to the 1/8 pole, but after a brief duel, Any Given Saturday shook him off and drew away to win by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:48.35. Curlin came out 4 wide into the stretch and put in a mild bid but was left with too much ground to make up, finishing a head behind Hard Spun in third.
