Kentucky-bred Baby Vino made his first appearance in a graded race a winning one, defeating Napolean Solo in the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park. Trainer Lindsay Schultz, saddling her first runner in a top-level race, became the first woman to win the Haskell in 59 runnings. Moreover, the Monmouth-based journeyman jockey Jorge Vargas, Jr. notched the first Grade 1 win of his career.

The Haskell is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. Baby Vino earned his guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland Oct. 31.

Baby Vino All Grown Up

Co-owned by Marcus Osborn and James “Smoky” Osborn’s Cosmo Stables and Josh Isner’s Delta Squad Racing, Baby Vino proved he belongs in graded company. The son of Vino Rosso is now in contention as one of the top 3-year-olds in the current crop. He dazzled in is first stakes race, taking the Pegasus Stakes on June 13 by 10 ¾ lengths in his Haskell prep. That gave his connections the confidence to step all the way up into the top level and take on a field that included Grade 1 winners Napoleon Solo from the barn of Chad Summers and the Brad Cox-trained Further Ado.

“From what he has shown us in the mornings, if he was able to get to this step we were going to take it. I thought we were competitive in this field. You never know until you’re there, but I thought he belonged. After his last race we thought this was the right place to try,”  said Shultz.

Baby Vino Overcomes All Obstacles

Not only was the colt being asked to handle the considerable class hike, he was also tasked with trying a sloppy (sealed) racing strip for the first time. The conditions presented no problem for him in the sixth Haskell contested in the slop.

When the gates opened Vargas rated Baby Vino off the pace set by Napoleon Solo. Baby Vino moved up along the inside and into contention as they reached the half-mile marker in :48.29. As Napoleon Solo set splits of 1:12.01 for six furlongs and 1:36.98 for the mile, Baby Vino was engaged close behind.

Coming out of the turn, those two battled in a furious fight down the lane. They bumped a few times, but Vino got his head in front at the wire in 1:50.18. Napolean Solo finished a half length behind.

The Haskell winner was bred in Kentucky by Lisa Parks and is out of the Discreetly Mine mare Discreetly Grand. Baby Vino now has a record of 7-3-2-1 with earnings of $794,916.