Baby Vino Pulls Off a Massive Upset in the Haskell to Write a Historic Chapter at Monmouth Park
- Turf Diario
- Jul 19
- 3 min read
The son of Vino Rosso pulled off a stunning upset at odds of 28-1 in the 3-year-old showpiece, delivering a breakthrough first G1 victory for trainer Lindsay Schultz and jockey Jorge Vargas Jr. while securing his automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic
The greatest stories in racing are often born when nobody expects them. And the 2026 Haskell Stakes (G1) delivered one of those unforgettable days. Dismissed at 28-1 odds, Baby Vino confirmed that his crushing victory in the Pegasus Stakes (L) had been no fluke and, in just his second stakes appearance, defeated several of the top colts of the generation to claim the million-dollar purse in Monmouth Park's traditional centerpiece.
Over a track turned into a sea of mud by the rain and in front of 35,608 spectators, the son of Vino Rosso scored by a half-length over Preakness Stakes (G1) hero Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map), while Iron Honor (Nyquist), the runner-up in Baltimore, completed the trifecta another 3 1/2 lengths back. The Puma (Essential Quality), returning from a near four-month layoff, never found his footing in the mud and finished fourth, ahead of the favorite Further Ado(Gun Runner), Star Sweeper (Rock Your World), and the still-maiden Ocelli (Connect).
The victory carried multiple historic milestone notes. Lindsay Schultz, saddling her very first starter in a G1, became the first female trainer to win the Haskell in the 59 editions of the race, while jockey Jorge Vargas Jr. secured the first top-level success of his career.
Furthermore, as part of the "Win and You're In" challenge series, Baby Vino automatically secured his spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on October 31 at Keeneland.
The running of the race was intense from the start. Napoleon Solo, under Paco López, set the pace through moderate fractions and turned for home still in command. However, Vargas had kept Baby Vino within striking distance along the rail, and as they entered the stretch, the two locked horns in a vibrant head-to-head duel, brushing several times under heavy urging from both riders. Ultimately, the runner representing Cosmo Stables and Delta Squad Racingmanaged to tilt the scales in his favor, stopping the clock in 1m50s18/100 for the 1800 meters.
The finish prompted a stewards' inquiry into the contact during the decisive yards, though after reviewing the films, they decided to let the official result stand.
"It was a true race to the wire. Both horses gave it their all, and it was only logical that the stewards wanted to look at the action," Schultz commented.
Vargas found no fault with how the final yards unfolded either: "That's just racing. Paco was doing his job, and I would have done the exact same thing in his shoes," the jockey explained, visibly emotional.
For Schultz, the success serves as validation for the immense confidence placed for months in a horse that has developed step by step. After needing five attempts to break his maiden at Oaklawn Park, Baby Vino arrived at Monmouth, demolished his rivals by 10 3/4 lengths in the Pegasus Stakes, and convinced his entire connections to take a shot directly in the Haskell.
"Ever since he began working, we felt he was a special horse. After the Pegasus, we thought he belonged at this level, and today he proved it. Winning a G1 with a horse that had also never run in the mud before is something huge," the trainer summarized.
On the losing side, Chad Summers expressed pride in Napoleon Solo's effort despite the defeat: "We knew Baby Vinowas a very good horse. Paco had been telling me about him for a while. My horse lost after a tremendous battle and finished well clear of the rest. I think it was one of the strongest Haskells I can remember," he analyzed.
With only two stakes appearances under his belt, Baby Vino went from a local promise to a national figure. His immediate future is not yet set, though both the Travers Stakes (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Classic now loom naturally on the horizon for a colt that has just burst onto the scene among the premier three-year-olds in the United States.
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