Paynter Wins $1 Million Haskell Invitational

Sunday's victory at the Haskell Invitational for the thoroughbred Paynter not only brought redemption after a loss last month at the Belmont Stakes but also gave the horse's trainer his sixth victory at the track's signature event.

A crowd of 35,253 watched Zayat Stables’ Paynter put on a brilliant show in the $1 million event on July 29, drawing off for an easy score to give trainer Bob Baffert an unprecedented sixth victory and third straight summer classic.

Baffert, who won a record fifth Haskell last year with Coil after Lookin At Lucky’s 2010 win, became the first trainer in Monmouth history to train three straight winners. He had won the race with Point Given in 2001, War Emblem in 2002, and Roman Ruler in 2005.

Paynter, who was winning the first stakes race of his six-race career, earned a prize of $600,000 for his Haskell victory, bringing his career total to $952,224 on a record of three wins and two seconds in six starts.