The field is set for the 53rd annual Haskell Invitational Stakes horse race at the Monmouth Park Race Track this Saturday.

A lot has changed this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Haskell race is no exception. For the first time ever, the race will serve as a qualifying points prep for the Kentucky Derby.

“Horse can come here and get points to compete in the Derby and that’s an important factor. It adds a special nuance to the race,” says Monmouth Park CEO Dennis Drazin.

This year’s race was also designated as a “win and you’re in” for the Breeder’s Cup Classic, adding a little more excitement for jockeys like Joe Bravo, the 2004 Haskell champ and Long Branch native.

Brave will ride Dr. Post on Saturday and says that he is pleased with his post position.

“We ended up getting the one position and it’s the closest way around there. We’re going to be right on the fence, so it works out good. I’ve been really lucky in the past, riding for Todd Pletcher. We’ve won some big races and it would be cool to top it off again,” Bravo says.

The Haskell Invitational is generally Monmouth Park’s biggest day of the year. This year will have limited capacity due to New Jersey’s COVID-19 restrictions.

Five hundred general admission tickets were already sold, with an additional 500 being released for both the picnic area and Blue Grotto Restaurant.

“It’s a 300-acre property. We can hold 61,000 people, but we want people to understand when they look at Monmouth Park and they see how we’re handling things, that they feel safe coming here,” says Drazin.

There will be temperature checks, a health survey and mandatory masks for all spectators.

“With 2020, we’re just thankful for everything that we have. Even the small amount of fans we have coming. We’ve got to be really thankful for that,” says Bravo.

Races will start at noon on Saturday. Additional general admission tickets are on sale now.