Strong field preparing for Sunday's Haskell The field for the $1 million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage (G1) continues to prepare for Sunday's Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park this week, with a variety of pre-race strategies beginning to emerge prior to the mile-and-an-eighth event Hard Spun breezed on Friday and Imawildandcrazyguy worked Thursday, while the other candidates were scheduled to work early this week in preparation for the big race. A field of six to seven appears to be shaping up for the centerpiece of Monmouth's race meet, which this year promises to be an exciting preview of the Breeders' Cup Classic to be run at Monmouth on Oct. 27. The prospective field for the 40th running of the Haskell includes: Any Given Saturday - The Todd Pletcher-trained colt, winner of the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont on July 4, was expected to have his final Haskell breeze on Monday at Belmont Park, where he is stabled. The Distorted Humor colt had a fast drill last Monday at Belmont, getting five furlongs in 59.40, best of 12 works at the distance. "He arrives (Tuesday)," said trainer Todd Pletcher from his Saratoga headquarters. "We'll paddock school him on Wednesday and Thursday and be ready for Sunday's race." Cable Boy - The unbeaten Jump Start colt breezed a mile in 1:44 on Thursday morning and will have his final workout on Wednesday morning over the Monmouth strip. The original plans to work on Tuesday were postponed a day because of recent rains and the expectation of more rain on Monday night. Trained by Pat McBurney, Cable Boy is a perfect 3-for-3, including a win in the Coronado's Quest Stakes here on June 24. Trainer Pat McBurney said regular rider Jose Velez Jr. would be aboard for the breeze. Cable Boy is the only Haskell starter stabled at Monmouth. Curlin - Trainer Steve Asmussen had his Preakness winner breeze six furlongs in 1:14 last Tuesday at Saratoga, and the Smart Strike colt was slated to have his final Haskell prep this Tuesday morning at the Spa. Curlin, who was second in the Belmont Stakes last out, will be shipped to Monmouth Park today, Asmussen said. The colt by Smart Strike sports four wins in six starts. His only two losses were a third place finish in the Kentucky Derby and runner-up performance in the Belmont Stakes, just missing by a head to Rags to Riches in a thrilling stretch duel between the two Classic winners. Hard Spun - The Danzig colt breezed six furlongs in 1:12.40 on Friday morning at Delaware Park with trainer Larry Jones aboard. It was his second straight drill at the distance, following a 1:14.20 move at Delaware on July 16. Jones said Hard Spun will be vanned to Monmouth from Delaware on Friday, and get in a gallop on the track Saturday. Imawildandcrazyguy - The gray gelding by Wild Event breezed three furlongs in 37.30 on Thursday morning at his Calder Race Course base. The Bill Kaplan trainee, fourth in the Kentucky Derby, won an allowance race at Calder in his most recent start on July 14, and was slated to work on Tuesday morning at his Calder base before being flown to New Jersey today. Kaplan confirmed Manoel Cruz, who was aboard for the geldings last win, an allowance at Calder, will have the return call. Xchanger - The Exchange Rate colt, winner of the Barbaro Stakes at Delaware Park last out on July 15, worked on Sunday at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, trainer Mark Shuman said. Xchanger has won both his starts at Monmouth, breaking his maiden there last year, and then winning the Sapling Stakes (G3). Stormello, winner of last year's Hollywood Futurity (G1), is considered a possible for the Haskell. The Bill Currin trainee just missed in the Fountain of Youth (G2) earlier this year before running fourth in the Florida Derby and 19th in the Kentucky Derby. Last out he was third in the Woody Stephens (G2) at Belmont, beaten by less than three lengths by Teuflesberg. Cable Boy connections happy with crack o'dawn breeze Cable Boy, unbeaten in three races at Monmouth and the local hope for the $1 million Haskell Invitational, breezed an easy mile over the fast main track early Thursday morning. The Jump Start colt, owned by James Dinan and Phantom House Farm and trained by Pat McBurney, was timed in 1:44 flat for the easy move, accomplished when the track first opened at 5:30 a.m. with assistant trainer Gus Duarte aboard. "It was perfect," McBurney said. "A nice, easy mile, and he did it just the way you want." McBurney said Cable Boy, holder of the Monmouth track record for a mile and 70 yards, loped along the first half-mile, clocked in :57, and then picked up the tempo to get the last half-mile in :47 flat for the 1:44 clocking. McBurney caught him galloping out a mile and an eighth in 2:00 flat. "Just what we wanted to see," the trainer said. "He went three-eighths really easy, just a two-minute lick, and picked it up nice after that to finish strong." Cable Boy was scheduled to have one more breeze before the Haskell. "He'll work five-eighths either Tuesday or Wednesday," McBurney said earlier this week. "We'll let the weather decide the day. Jose [regular jockey Jose Velez Jr.] will be up." Oceanport, Matchmaker top seven stakes on Haskell undercard While the $1 million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage will hold the spotlight on Sunday, the 14-race card includes seven other stakes races that will make it the best racing program of the year here prior to the Breeders' Cup days. Topping the list of supporting stakes are the $150,000 Oceanport Stakes (G3) and the $150,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (G3), both on the turf. The Oceanport, at a mile and 16th, will draw the best older grass horses available. The Taylor Made Matchmaker, a unique event that offers stallion seasons to the first three finishers in addition to purse money, is run at a mile and an eighth for fillies and mares. The $100,000 Jersey Derby will match 3-year-olds on the grass at a mile and 16th. Fillies and mares have their chance in the $100,000 Regret Stakes at six furlongs and the $100,000 Lady's Secret Stakes at a mile and 16th. Older sprinters match strides in the $100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes, and New Jersey-breds will be featured in the $65,000 Lincroft Handicap at a mile and 70 yards.