Despite being one of only two Grade 1 winners expected for the Haskell Invitational on Sunday at Monmouth Park, Brody’s Cause figures to be overlooked in the betting and could be the fourth choice in what as of Monday remained a six-horse field. Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, the 2-year-old male champion of 2015, will be favored, with Louisiana Derby winner Gun Runner and Iowa Derby winner American Freedom the probable second and third choices. The field is rounded out by the locally based Awesome Slew and Sunny Ridge. It is possible that the cast could grow before post positions are drawn Thursday. Brody’s Cause is trained by Dale Romans, who will send out a Haskell starter for the seventh straight year. Although yet to win the Grade 1, $1 million race, Romans finished second to American Pharoah last year with Keen Ice, who went on to beat the Triple Crown winner in the Travers Stakes. Romans also finished second in the 2011 Haskell with Shackleford and third in 2010 with First Dude. The late-running Brody’s Cause comes into the Haskell after finishing sixth of 13 in the Belmont Stakes and seventh of 20 in the Kentucky Derby. He had difficult post positions in both races – post 19 in the Derby and post 12 in the Belmont – but will not have to deal with that problem in a small field Sunday. Entering the stretch of both races, Brody’s Cause had too much work to do but finished with interest each time. Brody’s Cause, by Giant’s Causeway, won the Grade 1 Blue Grass in his start prior to the Derby. He was able to begin his run on the far turn that day and had a good head of steam before reaching the stretch. Romans said he was puzzled by Brody’s Cause’s performances in the Derby and Belmont. “They were peculiar races and kind of confused me,” Romans said. “He was a little spotty, especially in the Derby. If you watch, he finished up pretty fast. He was just too far back.” Romans has worked Brody’s Cause three times at Churchill Downs since the Belmont. He worked him an easy half-mile July 2, a bullet five furlongs July 9, and then sent him a half-mile Sunday. “He went well this morning,” Romans said Sunday. “He’s done enough in his training – he’s very fit – so I just gave him a week without working him.” Luis Saez, who has been aboard for the Blue Grass, Derby, and Belmont, will be back aboard Brody’s Cause on Sunday. In addition to the Blue Grass, Brody’s Cause won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. The only other Grade 1 winner in the field is Nyquist, who has won five Grade 1 races and a pair of Grade 2s. ◗ Nyquist worked a mile in 1:39.40 before the first race at Del Mar on Sunday. He was scheduled to ship to New Jersey along with American Freedom on Wednesday. ◗ Gun Runner worked a half-mile in 49.67 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga on Monday. He was scheduled to ship to Monmouth on Tuesday. – additional reporting by David Grening and Jay Privman