Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who saw Tapit Trice make a successful return with a 51/4-length romp in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup, earned a $75,000 bonus from Monmouth Park as a result of the $150,000 Haskell Weekend Trainer Challenge that ended last Saturday.
Chad Brown, with a first (Beaute Cachee) and third-place finish (Delahaye) in the Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes, earned $25,000 for finishing second to Pletcher with 55 points. Pletcher totaled 98 points over the Haskell Weekend Trainer Challenge that ran from July 19-21.
Pletcher also had the runner-up (Mindframe) in the NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes.
The top 10 point-getters all received bonuses.
"As always, we are grateful for all of the owners and trainers who participated all weekend," said John Heims, Monmouth Park's Director of Racing. "The Haskell trainer bonus debuted this year to great success and we look forward to bringing it back next year and in the years to come."
To be eligible for the bonus, trainers had to make at least five starts in at least three races during the July 19-21 cards at Monmouth Park.
The NYRA Bets Haskell offered 25 points to the winning trainer, 20 points for second, 15 for third, 10 for fourth and seven points from fifth place on.
The point system for the four other graded stakes on Haskell Day, July 21, were as follows: 18 points for first place, 15 points for second place, 10 points for third place, eight points for fourth place and five points for fifth through last place.
Points were also awarded for all other stakes races, for maiden special weight races, allowances and handicaps, as well as the remaining races over the three-day period.
Of the top 10 finishers, eight of the trainers are stabled at Monmouth Park.
The final results of the Haskell Weekend Trainer Challenge (bonus and points earned):
Todd Pletcher $75,000 (98 points)
Chad Brown $25,000 (55 points)
Pat McBurney $20,000 (35 points)
Christophe Clement $10,000 (31 points)
Claudio Gonzalez $7,500 (28 points)
Louis Linder $2,500 (24 points)
Mario Serey $2,500 (23 points)
Joe Orseno $2,500 (20 points)
(tie) Lindsey Schultz $2,500 (20 points)
Shug McGaughey $2,500 (20 points)
