NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes (Grade 1)

THERE’s something very exciting about watching a race where there is a popular favourite, but things don’t go to plan.

A furlong into the Haskell Stakes, fans of Journalism must have had a few heart tremors. It lookded as though the 2/5 shot was in a bit of trouble.

The Preakness winner broke slowly from stall two and was pushed along by Umberto Rispoli. He was not travelling well and was seventh in the field of eight heading into the first turn.

By the half-mile mark, he had moved back in contention but Gosger surged to the front at the top of the straight, and Goal Oriented went with him, leaving Journalism to go wide with two lengths to make up. At the furlong pole there was still a significant gap but the commentator called it perfectly.

“Journalism needs to quicken right now. One furlong to go, He comes with those big, robust strides, Journalism, he’s the headliner today. What a perfectly timed ride. What a classy champion.” That was the best way to describe the colt, knuckling down and striding out better, the further he went.

Journalism collared and passed Gosger to win by a half-length - the same margin as in the Preakness - to register his third Grade 1 win of the year. Goal Oriented was half a length back in third.

Speaking to Nick Luck at Monmouth Park afterwards, the jockey said: “He didn’t break the sharpest, he’s never been afraid of kickback but today he didn’t really like it in his face. So on the back side, I was trying to keep as close to Luis ‘cos I know he’s my target, he’s going to take me where ever I want. The more you ride him hard, the more he gives to you. What a horse, what a champion.”

Full of praise

Trainer Michael McCarthy was also full of praise for the son of Curlin who also finished second to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.

“He’s a different animal. I was concerned since he was running evenly through the lane for a bit, but he showed some determination. Gosger is a very good horse in his own right. It took a fantastic effort to get by him. It’s a great crop of three-year-olds.”

And as for Sovereignty versus Journalism round three? McCarthy did not dismiss a meeting with Sovereignty in the Travers Stakes next month at Saratoga. “Everything is on the table. We’ll enjoy this and talk with everyone,” he said.

A date against older horses in the Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar could also be a possibility. The colt is owned by a partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert V LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith

At 41,876, it was the largest crowd at Monmouth since 2015 when Triple Crown champion American Pharoah won.

The middle-distance turf scene in the US appears to have no stars but the Chad Brown/Klaravich Stables combination are always to the fore and it was their British-bred son of Kingman, Redistricting, who ran out a comfortable length and a half winner of the Grade 2 United Nations over 11 furlongs on turf.

There was another winner for trainer Chad Brown and owner Klaravich Stables when the five-year-old mare Randomized turned the tables on her last-time out Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes conqueror Dorth Vader with an easy victory in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher Stakes.

Only fifth in the Ogden Phipps when failing to lead over a sloppy track, the daughter of Nyquist broke smartly under jockey Flavien Prat. Dorth Vader had no response for Randomized as the field came into the stretch. Flavien Prat’s mount won by three lengths.

Mullins wins

Danny Mullins partnered Historic Heart, trained by Keri Brion to win the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial at Saratoga on Wednesday. In a battle to the line, they fought off the challenge of Grade 1 winner Proven Innocent to notch his first top-level success.The eight-year-old Fracas gelding was bred by Jim Bolger.

Coaching Club American Oaks Invitational Stakes (Grade 1)

COMPARED to the Haskell, the other Grade 1 race on Saturday over at Saratoga was a much less dramatic event. That is if you consider a 15 and a half length winner of a Grade 1 undramatic.

Godolphin’s top two-year-old filly Immersive was once again favourite but she was well and truly crushed.

Scottish Lassie, a daughter of McKinzie, had broken her maiden by nine lengths in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes last year at Aqueduct on her second start. Ridden by Joel Rosario for the first time, Scottish Lassie went to the lead around the first turn.

Immersive showed good early speed from the rail under Manny Franco, who then steered his mount to the outside around the first turn, relinquishing the lead to the winner. Immersive was asked to collar the pacesetter going into the final turn, but had no answers. Scottish Lassie raced away, delivering a 15 and a half-length win from a field reduced to four three-year-old fillies, following the withdrawal of second favourite La Cara.

Part-owner Jorge Abreu, who also trains the filly, was overcome with the win, saying “This is unbelievable, winning a Grade 1 at Saratoga.”

The sprint division needs a headline horse and could have one after the Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes over six furlongs where the Derek Ryan-trained Book’em Danno beat a quality field, hitting the line two and a half lengths ahead of Grade 1 winner Mullikin.