Sophomore Class Converges on Monmouth for Talent-Stacked Haskell

[Wandering Eyes]

Saturday's card at Monmouth Park features a 14-race card which is highlighted by six stakes–five of them graded–including the Oceanport oval's sophomore showpiece, the GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes. This year's renewal of the race has drawn this season's GI Preakness winner Journalism (Curlin), who is campaigned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm and Don Alberto Stable.

A mighty good horse before he ever embarked on the Triple Crown, the $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase won four of five starts heading to the Run for the Roses, including the GI Santa Anita Derby. Second to Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in both the Derby and most recently in the GI Belmont, the bay had anything but an easy time of it in the Preakness. Shoved pretty hard while looking for position in the late stages of Pimlico's Classic, Journalism's heart of a lion refused to give up, and he got up to peg GIII Lexington winner Gosger (Nyquist) in the final strides.

Explaining the what the connections were looking for in order to feel confident enough to allow Journalism to return east, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partner's Aron Wellman explained, “We looked at his appetite and how he was handling the feed tub, his energy around the barn and at the track. And of course, when we started to put him back into a breeze pattern, how he responded to his rider and then when we put him in company last weekend.”

Since the Belmont, Journalism has recorded three published works, including his most recent a bullet six-furlong move in 1:12 (1/7) at Santa Anita July 12.

“In these last three weeks he's really thrived and excelled,” confirmed Wellman. “He told us that he's ready to get back on a plane and got across the country to run in the Haskell.”

Gosger schools in the paddock at Monmouth | Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

While the former will likely take much of the money on race day, the latter looms a worthy rival shortening up a tad and if he can take another step forward.

“We knew we weren't going to make the [Kentucky] Derby trail, so we pointed him to the Preakness and it nearly worked out,” said Gosger's trainer Brendan Walsh earlier this week. “I still don't think we've got anywhere near the bottom of the horse.”

Whenever one thinks of the Haskell, it's hard not to think of trainer Bob Baffert, who has already won nine renewals of the race and looks for his 10th victory Saturday with 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time).

“I have been looking for my 10th Haskell for a few years now,” quipped Baffert when asked about his record number of scores in the race.

“He broke his maiden and we ran him right back and then brought him back two weeks later in the Preakness. He had a little rough start, didn't get away well and found himself behind horses, he'd never been in that situation. Then he had that little scrap there turning for home, but he still ran on. I think if he didn't get in that scrap, he could have been third or closer, but he came out of it well. He's a big strong horse and he's starting to grow into his frame. He's moving forward.”

Drawn in post 8, Baffert explains that the start is important for the big, developing colt.

“You want him to break well and get into a nice rhythm, that's the key,” he said. “He'll be forwardly placed somewhere.”

The only other Grade I winner in the eight-horse Haskell field is Burnham Square (Liam's Map), last seen finishing a close-up second behind East Avenue in the GIII Matt Winn at Churchill Downs June 8. Victorious in Gulfstream's GIII Holy Bull and fourth in the GII Fountain of Youth, the Whitham Thoroughbreds homebred nosed out favored East Avenue in the GI Blue Grass Stakes before finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby.

According to trainer Ian Wilkes, the gelding is expected to arrive at Monmouth Friday morning.

Drawing what has proven to be the golden rail in the Haskell, BBN Racing's Bracket Buster (Vekoma) enters the fray off an emphatic seven-length score in a sloppy edition of the Pegasus Stakes on the Jersey Shore June 14. Trained by Vicky Oliver, the colt will be accompanied by Hall of Fame trainer John Velazquez.

On Saturday undercard, Monmouth also features the GII United Nations, headed by Get Smokin (Get Stormy) who will attempt to repeat in the 11-furlong turf test. Now 8-years old, he is co-owned by Ironhorse Stable, Blackridge Stables, T-N-T Equine Holdings, and Saratoga Seven Racing Partners.

A winner of two of five starts in 2024, including Woodbine's 12-furlong GIII Valedictory Stakes in December, the chestnut was third in his only 2025 start to date in the 1 1/16-mile GII Eclipse Stakes over Woodbine's main track May 31.

The gelding is trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, who won the 2016 United Nations with eventual Breeders' Cup Mile winner and Turf Male champion World Approval.

“Mark has done a fantastic job, an unbelievable job, really an amazing job with him. We really let the horse tell us what he wants to do,” said Harlan Malter of Ironhorse Racing Stable Stables. “He had two tough races last year where we got some conditions we didn't like and the setup we didn't like. He threw in two 'under' performances so you say to yourself 'it's his 7-year-old year,' and then you ask, 'is he telling you something?'

Dorth Vader lords over the Ogden Phipps | Sarah Andrew

“But Mark said the horse is doing fantastic and he wants to run. So, we listened and ran him in the Valedictory. It was full-on, windswept giant snowflake snow blizzard and he went a mile-and-a-half on the lead in that race and was as happy as he could be. He finished up the year full of run.”

“We've given him his time and Mark has done a great job bringing him around. He's 8, but he doesn't want to do anything but run.”

Rounding out Monmouth graded roster is the GIII Matchmaker Stakes, GIII Monmouth Cup and the GIII Molly Pitcher Stakes, headed by GI Alabama winner Power Squeeze (Union Rags) and last out Ogden Phipps scorer Dorth Vader.

 

Spa Saturday Features CCA Oaks

Immersive works at the Spa | Sarah Andrew

A trio of graded tests for fillies head Saturday's card at Saratoga, including the nine-furlong GI Coaching Club American Oaks. Leading the charge is last year's juvenile champion filly Immersive (Nyquist), undefeated in four starts in 2024, including the GI Spinaway, GI Alcibiades and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. In her sole start this season, the Godolphin homebred was a neck back in second to Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) in Churchill's Monomoy Stakes June 14.

“She's doing very well,” said trainer Brad Cox, who won this race with Monomoy Girl [2018] and Wet Paint [2023]. “She needed her last run in the Monomoy Girl. She ran a great race and galloped out well. I feel like she's every bit as good this year as she was last year. I really think she'll move forward off that run.”

Godolphin has won this event with Jilbab [2002], Music Note [2008], It's Tricky [2011], Questing [2012] and Wet Paint [2023].

Mark Casse also comes into this well armed, courtesy of this season's GI Acorn and GI Ashland scorer La Cara (Street Sense). The Tracy Farmer-owned filly finished ninth in a soggy renewal of the GI Kentucky Oaks.

La Cara drills at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew

“She likes her job and she loves to train,” said trainer Mark Casse. “She didn't like the slop at Churchill Downs [in the Kentucky Oaks], but before her last race [in the Acorn], Dylan [Davis] said to me, 'this is a different type of slop.' She handled it great.”

Immersive, who will be ridden by Manny Franco, is listed as the 8-5 morning line favorite, while La Cara was installed the early 2-1 second choice.

Also featured on Saratoga's Saturday card is the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt and the GIII Caress Stakes.

In other stakes action this weekend, Del Mar hosts the GII San Clemente Stakes Saturday, while Saratoga presents the six-furlong GII Honorable Miss Stakes Sunday. Also Sunday, Woodbine has a pair of graded tests scheduled, the GII bet365 Connaught Cup and the GII Canadian Stakes.

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