Are we over the Triple Crown haze yet? Probably not. The three iconic races of horse racing’s biggest event this year were truly something to behold. Without a doubt, the emergence of Journalism and Sovereignty as two fierce rivals was the biggest takeaway for the fans. However, for Journalism’s owners and trainer, it was a bittersweet stretch of five weeks. The horse was handed two thunderous defeats by Sovereignty at Churchill Downs and Saratoga, making the former’s victory at the Preakness look somewhat pale in comparison. However, the Michael McCarthy-trained colt has his eyes set on new challenges.

All eyes will be on New Jersey this weekend. On July 19, Saturday, $1 million NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes will descend upon Monmouth Park, and Journalism will be one of the top contenders to win the race. It’s been over a month since the horse ran the Belmont Stakes, and it looks like he is already getting familiar with the surroundings for the upcoming race.

The official X account of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, one of the co-owners of Journalism, posted on July 15, sharing how the horse is adjusting at Monmouth Park. “Journalism has arrived @MonmouthPark ahead of Saturday’s G1, $1m Haskell! He is surveying his new digs w bright eyes and attentive ears,” read the caption as the accompanying image showed the curious 3-year-old horse taking a look around the stable. 

Horse racing schedule can be hectic. That was one of the prime reasons why Sovereignty’s trainer, William Mott, decided to skip the Preakness, following the Kentucky Derby win, to focus on the Belmont Stakes. Journalism, on the other hand, ran at all three of those, as McCarthy had made it clear that he would take every opportunity that came his way. However, despite all the traveling, Journalism luckily wasn’t left all by himself, traveling to the Garden State.

Instead, the 2025 Santa Anita Derby winner shared the ride with Goal Oriented, the Bob Baffert-trained horse who crossed the finishing line in fourth place at the Preakness Stakes this year. The rematch between these two will be scintillating, rest assured. But a few laughs before the weekend race wouldn’t go amiss. And we all know Journalism loves to make friends.

Before the Belmont Stakes this year, the tension was high. Along with the rematch against Sovereignty, Journalism was set to take on six more horses, all with stacked resumes of their own. “There’s going to be a very strong field of eight here on Saturday. So we’re not just here to beat Sovereignty. We’re here to beat the other seven entrants as well,” McCarthy told TDN before the race at Saratoga. And yet, Journalism couldn’t help but feel relaxed before the big race.

Following his win at the Pimlico Race Course, Journalism headed straight to Saratoga, days before the Belmont Stakes. And he immediately hit it off with a fellow stablemate. The new-forged friendship also seemed to help McCarthy’s horse, as Journalism picked up his second Grade 1 second-place finish in Saratoga. But will the same thing repeat this Saturday as well? After all, the Haskell won’t be any laughing matter either.

Towering competition awaits Journalism at Monmouth Park

The 11/8 mile Haskell Stakes is often portrayed as the race that makes you a Breeders’ Cup contender if you win it. Goes without saying, the competition will be fierce on Saturday. Apart from the 2025 Preakness Stakes winner Journalism and Bob Baffert’s Goal Oriented, who won the Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita Park in April, six equally qualified A-listers will take to the turf on July 19. With Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli on the saddle, Journalism goes into the weekend race as the 4/5 favorite. But it won’t be a stroll through the park even for him.

Ian Wilkes’ Burnham Square could be the underdog who can upset Journalism’s hopes of making amends for the Belmont heartbreak. The winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland has over $1 million in career earnings. The gelding came in sixth at the Kentucky Derby before a second-place finish at the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes.

Gosger, the second-place finisher at this year’s Preakness, will also have another shot at leaving Journalism in the dust on Saturday. Jockeyed by the celebrated Luis Saez, the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes-winning Nyquist colt will go into Haskell with 9/2 odds. And last, but not least, the name “Bob Baffert” is enough to make any horse racing connoisseur buckle up. With him as the trainer, Goal Oriented shouldn’t be discounted, either.

So, which of these speedsters will you be putting your money on come Saturday? Pick your favorites for the upcoming Grade 1 race in the comments!