Monmouth increases Haskell purse to $1.25 million

Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird will be racing for $1.25 million if they run in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park a week from Saturday.

The track on the New Jersey shore announced on Thursday that it increased the purse for its biggest race by $250,000. The winner will now get $750,000.

Rachel Alexandra, Summer Bird, Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem, multiple graded-stakes winner Munnings and Monmouth Park stakes victor Bunker Hill are expected to run in the race. Duke of Mischief, who won the Iowa Derby last out, is a possible entrant.