Oceanport, NJ (My Sportsbook) - The front running Lion Heart held off My Snookie's Boy to capture the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. The time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:48 4/5.

The finish in the Haskell was a repeat of the Long Branch Stakes run at Monmouth in July. In the Long Branch, Lion Heart won by a nose after being pressed the entire race by My Snookie's Boy.

In the Haskell, Lion Heart jumped to the lead with odds-on favorite Rock Hard Ten second along with Royal Assault and My Snookie's Boy. Lion Heart held the lead up the backstretch by a couple lengths as the other entrants shuffled for better position.

Around the turn for home Lion Heart opened his advantage as My Snookie's Boy shook loose from the rest of the field to grab second. Rock Hard Ten faded after jockey Corey Nakatani had him close to the lead.

Down the stretch jockey Joe Bravo, who felt it was one of his easiest wins, encouraged the three-year-old to post a one length victory. My Snookie's Boy was second with Pies Prospect third and Royal Assault fourth. Rounding out the order of finish was Swingforthefences, Rock Hard Ten, Tap Day and Wimplestiltskin.

Lion Heart was the 9-5 morning-line favorite when the draw took place on Thursday. He is best known as the pace setting colt who finished second in the Kentucky Derby to Smarty Jones. Two weeks later he faded to fourth in the Preakness Stakes, also won by Smarty Jones.

The three-year-old is owned by Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor, and trained by Patrick Biancone. Lion Heart adds $600,000 to his earnings which now total more than $1.3 million. He went past the $1 million mark just for this year.

Lion Heart returned $5.80, $4.40 and $3.80. My Snookie's Boy paid $12.80 and $7.60, and Pies Prospect paid $10.40 for show.

Also Sunday, it was announced that officials of the Breeders' Cup Limited and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association have reached a memorandum of understanding with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to have Monmouth Park host the 2007 World Thoroughbred Championships. The Breeders' Cup that year will be held either the last weekend of October or the first weekend of November.