Betting With, and Against, Journalism in the Haskell Stakes

An excellent field of eight three-year-olds will vie in Saturday’s $1 million Haskell Invitational S. (G1) at Monmouth Park. The 1 1/8-mile tilt on the main oval attracted an octet of top sophomores, led by multiple Grade 1 victor #2 Journalism (4-5). Trained by Michael McCarthy, the standout son of Curlin has compiled a superb 8-5-2-1 mark in his career and held up especially well during the Triple Crown with a Preakness S. (G1) victory, as well as fine runner-up efforts in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont S. (G1). The colt has tactical speed, athleticism, and a strong closing kick, and he looms large in his first appearance at the Oceanside, N.J. venue. 

Journalism – With 

• $4 superfecta 2 with 6,8 with 1,4,6,8 with 1,4,6,8 ($48)

Journalism – Against

• $6 superfecta 8 with 2 with 1,4,6 with 1,4,6 ($36)
• 50-cent superfecta 6,8 with 2,6,8 with 1,2,4,6,8 with 1,2,4,6,8 ($12)

If the favorite fails to fire for some reason, then I expect Bob Baffert’s #8 Goal Oriented (4-1) to prosper from it. By Not This Time, the lightly raced colt went into the Preakness with a two-for-two mark prior to finishing a troubled fourth, in an effort that I feel was much better than it appears on paper. The $425,000 yearling purchase was shut off at the top of the lane in the race after rating kindly on the backside, and he will benefit from the experience going forward. The Kentucky-bred has fired bullets in four of his five most recent morning drills and will always be close to the action with Flavien Prat on board once again. 

#6 Gosger (9-2) looked to be home free in an excellent Preakness try before getting run down late by Journalism in what was a huge showing for trainer Brendan Walsh. The Nyquist colt is rapidly improving; he has posted six morning moves in advance of his second Grade 1 attempt, and the colt also has a versatile running style, as well. Luis Saez has the assignment. 

#1 Bracket Buster (10-1) aired in his local debut in a Pegasus S. romp but faces a much more daunting task on Saturday. The Vickie Oliver trainee has shown steady improvement in his career, and if he happens to clear the cast early, then he can hang around for a piece late. I feel that Blue Grass S. (G1) winner #4 Burnham Square (5-1) is more of a grinder who could find this particular surface unfavorable to his running style, but the Ian Wilkes charge has class and can’t be ignored for the exotics. The pace of the race could be contested, which will aid his chances at rallying for a piece inside the final furlong.