The 50th Haskell Invitational takes over Monmouth Park on Sunday, with thousands of race fans expected to descend upon Oceanport.

Oceanport police and Monmouth Park officials have been hard at work preparing for the 35,000 expected spectators.

The seven horses that will be running in the race are already in their stables and the annual sand castle sculpture is up at the gate.

Race fans are already speculating on who will win the event.

“I like Timeline. I like Javier Costellano,” says Carteret resident Nick Hrycuna. “I’ve been following him. I feel it’s like a homecoming for him. I know he hasn’t run here in a while.

With so many people expected to attend Sunday’s race, Oceanport police say that they have already put a plan into place to control the traffic. Officers will be controlling lights on Route 36 to keep the masses moving. 

The Oceanport force will be backed up by New Jersey State Police and the Department of Transportation.

Police say that the busiest hours will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., when the race ends. They suggest that race fans show up early to beat the traffic or take the train, which arrives at the side entrance to Monmouth Park on Port Au Peck Avenue.

There will be a total of 14 races at Monmouth Park Sunday. The Haskell race will be the 12th race with a post time of 5:47 p.m.

New Jersey-bred Irish War Cry is the favorite horse to win the race.