American Pharoah may face less than stellar field in Haskell

OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) -- Triple Crown winner American Pharoah may have an easy time of it in the $1 million Haskell Invitational in two weeks, with a less than stellar field starting to take shape.

A list of probable challengers was released by Monmouth Park on Friday, and they don't appear to be too imposing. Among them is either Competitive Edge or Stanford, both trained by Todd Pletcher, War Story, Mr. Jordan and Tekton.

Listed as possible for the 1 1/8-mile Haskell are Keen Ice, who finished third behind American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes on June 6, Bent on Bourbon and Good Pick Nick.

Stanford would come into the race off a victory in the Long Branch Stakes, the local prep for the Haskell.

American Pharoah will be making his first start since becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner after sweeping the Derby, Preakness and Belmont -- the first horse to accomplish the feat since Affirmed in 1978.

The 3-year-old colt trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert currently is training at Del Mar in California.

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