After the sounds of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” melted away into the cool breezes from the Jersey Shore, the field thundered into the stretch for the $1,017,500 Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park
Just like the Preakness Stakes (G1).
Only this time there was no melodrama.
No bumper cars at the top of the stretch with Journalism muscling his way between horses. No mind-boggling charge by him in the final furlong to wipe out Gosger’s seemingly safe five-length lead.
Just a heckuva good horse race.
Journalism , b, 3/c
Owner : Eclipse, Bridlewood, Don Alberto…Breeder : Don Alberto Corporation (KY)Trainer : Michael W. McCarthyJockey : Umberto RispoliInformation provided by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes Curlin stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms for $225,000 (2025).
Sale History
Repeating the order of finish in the second jewel of the Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, Journalism once again collared and passed Gosger in the late stages to win the July 19 Haskell by a half-length—the same winning margin as in the Preakness—to register his third grade 1 win of the year.
“He’s a different animal,” trainer Michael McCarthy said about the son of Curlin Sovereignty
From the other perspective, for trainer Brendan Walsh the Haskell marked a second straight time his son of Nyquist
“(Jockey Luis Saez) rode a fantastic race and we got nailed again by a very good horse. I’m not disappointed in the horse at all,” Walsh said. “Luis rode him right, produced at the right time and he just got caught. Gosger ran his race. We can’t ask for more than that.”
Now having a second rivalry in the 3-year-old division, McCarthy expressed respect for Gosger’s last two efforts.
“Gosger is a very good horse in his own right. It took a fantastic effort to get by him. Hats off to him. He’s run two admirable races. It’s a great crop of 3-year-olds,” McCarthy said.
As for the No. 1 rivalry in the sport—Sovereignty vs. Journalism—McCarthy did not dismiss a third meeting with Sovereignty in the Travers Stakes (G1) next month at Saratoga Race Course
“Everything is on the table. We’ll enjoy this and talk with everyone,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy said Journalism would leave Monmouth July 21 or 22 and return home to California, creating a possibility he may opt for a date against older horses in the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar
It was the sixth win in nine career starts for the son of the mare Mopotism, who died earlier this week , and increased his earnings to $3,798,880 for the ownership group of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, breeder Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elyane Stables Five, and the Coolmore partners. He was bought for $825,000 at the 2023 The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s select yearling sale.
“It’s been an incredible journey, but there have been some stressful moments, too,” said Eclipse’s Aron Wellman, managing partner of the group. “Michael had this horse prepared to perfection. (Jockey Umberto Rispoli) rode this horse to perfection. We saw what a champion (Journalism) is. We had a game plan and he executed it. I couldn’t be prouder of him for it.”
On a day when 41,876 turned out, the largest crowd at Monmouth since 2015 when Triple Crown champion American Pharoah
Up front, longshots Bracket Buster Kentucky Outlaw Goal Oriented
As the top two faltered and Goal Oriented took a brief lead, Saez moved Gosger into contention and Rispoli moved Journalism outside of him—unlike the Preakness when a rail-skimming ride had Journalism bottled up behind horses in the stretch and forced him to power through rivals like a running back.
“The outside was the best place to be today,” Rispoli said.
Indeed it was.
Photo: Equi-Photo
Jockey Umberto Rispoli and Journalism after winning the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park
As Gosger surged to the front at the top of the stretch, Goal Oriented hung with him and continued battling inside of the Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables homebred.
Gosger managed to hold off Goal Oriented but the same could not be said of Journalism. A little more than a length behind Gosger at the eighth pole, Rispoli and Journalism motored to the front in the final yards and covered the mile and an eighth in 1:48.15.
Gosger finished a neck in front of Goal Oriented, a son of Not This Time
Walsh said the Aug. 23 Travers was a possibility for Gosger based on how he exits the Haskell.
All-sources wagering was $21,999,962, marking the third straight year Monmouth has set a non-Breeders’ Cup track wagering record on Haskell day.
Journalism is one of four graded stakes winners this year for Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms’ Curlin. La Troienne Stakes (G1) winner Raging Sea Ocean Club Cornishman
Photo: Equi-Photo
The connections of Journalism celebrate his Haskell Stakes victory at Monmouth Park
