A prestigious horse race, featuring the Kentucky Derby champion, top-notch boys’ and girls’ basketball matchups and a good dosage of lacrosse will keep fans entertained as the hazy, hot days of summer continue on.
Monmouth Park will be the center of the thoroughbred racing world on this Sunday, July 31, when the Oceanport horse track holds the $1 million Haskell Invitational.
The Kentucky Derby winner, Nyquist, will head the field.
Nyquist has not raced since May when the horse was defeated at the Preakness. Nyquist will be looking to regain his standing as one of the best 3-year-olds in the country.
Looking to derail Nyquist are two horses that lost to him at the Kentucky Derby, Gun Runner and Brody’s Cause.
Trainer Bob Baffert looks to extend his record eight victories to nine triumphs with American Freedom. Baffert has won five of the last six Haskell’s, including last year when the Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah, crossed first.
Playoffs in the Monroe Sports Center’s Boys’ and Girls’ Summer Basketball League tip off on July 31. The playoffs continue on Aug. 2 and 3. The first games start at 6 p.m.
The Jersey Shore Basketball League playoffs begin on Aug. 2 at Wall Township High School. This will be the last chanced this summer to watch former high school stars from the area such as Raritan High’s Mike Aaman (Wagner) play before they set off for college.
The doubleheader tips off at 7:15 p.m..
For lacrosse fans, the place to be is the Drum Point Soccer Complex in Brick Township for the Jersey Shore Summer Lacrosse League’s War At The Shore on July 30.
Top clubs from throughout the state compete in the major tournament.
The tournament uses 16 fields, 12 at Drum Point and four at the Veterans Memorial Middle School in Brick.
The first game starts are 8:15 a.,m. and the last games begin at 6 p.m.
