Three of the top four finishers from the Preakness Stakes meet again in the $1,000,000 Grade I Haskell Stakes over 1,800m at Monmouth Park during the richest day of racing from the Oceanport, New Jersey track on Saturday, July 19.
Leading a field of eight is Preakness winner Journalism, who went on to again place behind Kentucky Derby hero and old rival Sovereignty in the Belmont Stakes last month. With this season’s Triple Crown races now complete, Michael McCarthy drops his Curlin colt back in trip and meets Gosger in a rematch from Pimlico over 100m shorter distance.
Just half-a-length separated Journalism, who barged his way through with a determined run, and Brendan Walsh’s son of Nyquist at the wire. Gosger skipped the Derby despite winning the Wild Card race on the road to Churchill Downs. His two-length defeat of re-opposing second Bracket Buster reads well with that one landing a Listed prep race the Haskell Stakes of 2025 at Monmouth Park by seven lengths.
Victoria Oliver takes Gosger on again with her Vekoma colt, but he had the run of the race in the Lexington around Keeneland in the spring. There seems no obvious reason why Bracket Buster should beat his old rival now despite picking up valuable course experience. Bob Baffert has nine wins in the Haskell, meanwhile, and saddles Goal Oriented as he seeks a record-extending tenth victory.
As this year’s Preakness Stakes result shows, however, the son of Not This Time has plenty to find with Journalism and Gosger. Goal Oriented finished out of the show in Baltimore, some six lengths behind the front two. He’s had less racing than Journalism, yet only one fewer career start than Gosger. Fourth on his first Graded start looks a good effort from Goal Oriented.
Burnham Square Back at Optimum Distance
There’s another Grade I winner in the Haskell Stakes of 2025 besides Journalism in Kentucky Derby sixth Burnham Square. Prior to taking minor honors in the Run for the Roses, Ian Wilkes’ gelding by Liam’s Map just got up on the wire in the Blue Grass Stakes. Burnham Square prevailed by a nose from East Avenue over 1,800m.
Although those old rivals finished the other way round in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs last month, that Grade III race is only a 1,700m contest. East Avenue practically went from gate to wire in front, but Burnham Square gained on him up the fence all the way up the home stretch. Going back up in distance by 100m looks more suitable for him.
None of this opposition from the Triple Crown trail stops oddsmakers on Preakness Stakes betting sites from having Journalism as their hot Morning Line favorite again. It’s fair to say and no disrespect to the three remaining runners in this field are longshots. Distant Pegasus Stakes second and fourth Wildcrazynight and National Law were no match for Bracket Buster here at Monmouth Park last time.
They add local interest to the Haskell Stakes of 2025, but little else. The pair have seven lengths and upwards to find from their efforts in Listed company against some of the best middle-distance three-year-olds in training on dirt. Completing the line-up is another course winner in Kentucky Outlaw, but similar comments apply to him.
Following victory in the Long Branch Stakes here in May, he could only show in the Delaware Derby. A Grade I with this prize purse demands a lot more from Kentucky Outlaw, National Law and Wildcrazynight. This race may come down to whether or not Journalism is a class apart or has run too much.
Haskell Stakes 2025 Post Positions Draw & Morning Line Odds
- Bracket Buster (119lbs) – 10-1
- Journalism (122lbs) – 4-5
- Wildcrazynight (119lbs) – 30-1
- Burnham Square (122lbs) – 5-1
- National Law (119lbs) – 20-1
- Gosger (119lbs) – 9-2
- Kentucky Outlaw (119lbs) – 15-1
- Goal Oriented (119lbs) – 4-1
Our Handicapper’s Verdict on the Haskell Stakes 2025
Journalism is the one to beat but, unlike in the Triple Crown races, Grade I winners carry a penalty here instead of running off level weights. Gosger therefore has every chance of turning about the Preakness form off 3lb better terms with the favorite.
He also has the beating of Bracket Buster and Goal Oriented on previous runs, for all the latter is slightly less exposed. While that Triple Crown campaign could catch up with Journalism, Burnham Square can make the show if reproducing his best form that includes the Blue Grass win over this distance.
WATCH: Journalism Beats Gosger & Goal Oriented in Preakness Stakes
