At Monmouth Park on Saturday, Journalism made a thrilling late surge to capture the $1 million Haskell Invitational. This marked Journalism’s first race since competing in the Triple Crown series, where he was the only colt to run in all three races, winning the Preakness and finishing second in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
Starting as the heavy favorite at 2-5 odds, Journalism, under jockey Umberto Rispoli, broke well and closely followed the early leaders. Coming into the final turn, he accelerated, overtaking Gosgar and getting tangled in a fierce battle with Goal Orientation at the front. It appeared Journalism would sweep through the inside path to win, finishing ahead by half a length.
Rispoli commented, “Riding him feels like handling a diesel engine—he’s steady and powerful, and you never know when he’ll fully unleash. What he accomplished today was amazing.”
Gosgar secured second place, narrowly beating Goal Orientation for third. This Haskell win marked Journalism’s sixth victory in nine races, trained by Southern California’s Michael McCarthy. The colt previously won the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar last November.
Journalism paid out $2.80, $2.20, and $2.10.
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Fan Take: Journalism’s impressive comeback after the Triple Crown season signals the rise of a new star in horse racing, rekindling excitement among fans. His continued success could inspire fresh interest in the sport and highlight the skill of rising trainers like Michael McCarthy.
