In news that surprised virtually no one, Justify has been retired — making the question of which sophomore will rise to the top during the second half of the season a pressing as well as interesting one.

The first of the summer’s top races for the sophomore dirt route set happens this Sunday, and it’s also the marquee race for the entire Monmouth Park meet: the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Haskell Invitational Stakes.  In addition to the biggest share of that seven-figure purse, the winner of the Haskell also gets a Win and You’re In berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, to be run November 4 at Del Mar.  It is the only automatic Breeders’ Cup Classic berth offered in a race limited to three-year-olds.

Head over to Picks and Ponderings, read my preview of the Haskell, and let me know your thoughts in the comments!