Haskell 2025
A strong field of eight in the Haskell Stakes is set to race at Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 19 with a post time of 5:45 p.m. ET in the signature race of the season at that track. This is a Grade 1, two-turn race over 1 ⅛ miles and the winner gets a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Class on November 1.
Unlike some of the other Breeders’ Cup qualifier battles, this is a race exclusively for 3-year-olds, so we’ve got some Triple Crown competitors out there with $1 million on the line. Journalism is a heavy favorite, but he’ll have to fend off some esteemed challengers.
Haskell Stakes 2025 Entries, Horses, Jockeys, and Trainers:
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
| 1 | Bracket Buster | V. Oliver | J. Velazquez | 10-1 |
| 2 | Journalism | M. McCarthy | U. Rispoli | 4/5 |
| 3 | Wildncrazynight | D. Ward | I. Castillo | 30-1 |
| 4 | Burnham Square | I. Wilkes | B. Hernandez Jr. | 5-1 |
| 5 | National Law | J. Duarte Jr. | I. Ortiz Jr. | 20-1 |
| 6 | Gosger | B. Walsh | L. Saez | 9/2 |
| 7 | Kentucky Outlaw | F. Dunn | F. Geroux | 15-1 |
| 8 | Goal Oriented | B. Baffert | F. Prat | 4-1 |
There seemed to be some question as to whether or not Journalism would line up here or in next weekend’s Jim Dandy Stakes to prep for the Travers Stakes, but Michael McCarthy is taking his shot here at getting that ticket punched for Del Mar. Gosger looks to be the top challenger, even though Goal Oriented’s price is a little shorter based on the odds from the middle of the week.
Here are some thoughts on each horse at the odds at time of publish:
1. Bracket Buster (10-1; Velazquez/Oliver): The son of Vekoma and Spring Dance steps back up in class here once again after running away from Haskell foe Wildncrazynight in a listed stakes race just over a month ago. Bracket Buster ran a very competitive second to Gosger in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland back in April and a similar run will give him a great chance to hit the board. Winning is another story, but he did like this track in that June 14 tune-up in the Pegasus Stakes. He also might get his first good track conditions in a while.
2. Journalism (4/5; Rispoli/McCarthy): The Preakness Stakes winner and Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes runner-up is back across the country for his fifth straight Grade 1 field. Sovereignty has been the only one to beat Journalism since his maiden voyage when he finished third over six furlongs at Santa Anita last October. He won the 1 ⅛-mile Santa Anita Derby over Baeza and Westwood in his only data point at this distance. There are a lot of speed horses and pacesetters in the field, giving Journalism the chance to sit behind them before hitting the gas.
3. Wildncrazynight (30-1; Castillo/Ward): This will be just the second race over six furlongs for Wildncrazynight, who was competitive for a while in the Pegasus before Bracket Buster ran away by more than seven lengths. Given that Bracket Buster is a double-digit shot, Wildncrazynight has no shot here, especially with the bump in distance.
4. Burnham Square (5-1; Hernandez/Wilkes): The son of Liam’s Map and Linda is a Grade 1 winner with a victory in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland back in April. He followed that up with a decent sixth-place finish in the sloppy Kentucky Derby. East Avenue got revenge last time out in the Matt Winn Stakes, leaving some to wonder what Burnham Square’s actual peak could be. He’s run very consistently in his five stakes races, but there hasn’t been that bombshell performance that people want to see. Do we get it here? Brian Hernandez Jr.’s ride will dictate a lot, as Monmouth has a preference towards speed and Burnham Square will be towards the back at the outset.
5. National Law (20-1; Ortiz Jr./Duarte Jr.): Irad Ortiz Jr. rides the son of Constitution and Susie’s Baby into the Haskell against a much stiffer field than he’s seen in the past. He, too, was in the Pegasus at Monmouth last month and filled out the superfecta. He was a winner twice before that, but he is going up in distance and way up in class from a listed stakes to a Grade 1.
6. Gosger (9/2; Saez/Walsh): The biggest threats to Journalism are towards the outside, beginning with Gosger. The son of Nyquist was a double-digit shot in the Preakness and ran a terrific second to Journalism. He hasn’t run since, but hasn’t finished worse than second in four starts. He only raced once as a 2-year-old and finished second before breaking his maiden in his debut as a 3-year-old. Luis Saez gets his second straight ride on Gosger, as he enters the reigning champion in this event with last year’s win aboard Dornoch.
With a long shot to the inside and the outside, expect Saez to be able to settle into the slot he wants for this ride and to have a strong shot late.
7. Kentucky Outlaw (15-1; Geroux/Dunn): Husband and wife John and Felissa Dunn need Kentucky Outlaw to find another gear, but the winner of the Long Branch Stakes a couple months ago is in his first graded stakes race. Kentucky Outlaw has had some issues leaving the starting gate and spotting a field this strong a head start is going to be a problem. Florent Geroux may be able to break that habit, as Paco Lopez has had the last two rides. I’m not taking the 7 to win, but a surprising finish to some maybe wouldn’t be to me with the rider change.
8. Goal Oriented (4-1; Prat/Baffert): The very lightly-raced son of Not This Time and Bizzy Caroline ran fourth in the Preakness Stakes. That was his first stakes race after wins at six furlongs and 1 1/16 in a maiden special weight and an allowance race. This will be his fourth track in four races, having run at Santa Anita, Churchill Downs, and Pimlico. Bob Baffert may not call Monmouth home, but it sure feels like one on this weekend every year. He’s won this race nine times.
Haskell Stakes Predictions
Fascinating race here with speed vs. stalker. There are some speed horses that will run out front early and we’ll have to pay close attention to the track bias on Saturday. If Monmouth is favoring the pacesetters, this race could be more up for grabs than we think. If not, Journalism should win as the best stalker in the field.
Personally, I like Gosger the most here. Saez has a horse that can run up front early and the distance shouldn’t be a problem. Holding off Journalism is no easy task, and one Gosger could not complete in the Preakness, but I think he gets his revenge here with improving numbers and more training time.
$25 Trifecta Key : 6 / 2,8 / 2,8
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