Expert Pick of the Week: 2025 Haskell Invitational Stakes

Jul 16, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Journalism wins the 2025 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

An excellent field of eight sophomores will run 1 1/8 miles on the Monmouth Park main surface in Saturday’s $1 million Haskell S. (G1). The highlight of the summer meeting at the coastal attraction is led by multiple Grade 1 winner Journalism, who finished in the top two in each of the three legs of the Triple Crown for conditioner Michael McCarthy.

By Curlin, the fantastic colt has earned more than $3 million in 2025 and has posted a trio of swift morning moves at his California base in advance of his initial try over the Monmouth strip. The imposing bay has registered triple-digit Brisnet Speed figures in all five of his appearances this campaign, and the Kentucky-bred has the ability to run from near or off of the early tempo with equal effectiveness, as well.

Journalism impressed when winning the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his lone prior try at nine furlongs and seems poised to deliver another huge performance on Saturday. I expect him to tuck in behind a swift and potentially contested pace prior to taking the lead nearing the midstretch mark. Regular rider Umberto Rispoli will be in the silks.

G1 Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism 🤩😍 pic.twitter.com/egeQcRRmgM

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 24, 2025

I thought that Preakness S. (G1) fourth Goal Oriented ran a big one over the Pimlico oval despite his lack of seasoning, combined with his forgettable trip, for trainer Bob Baffert. The son of Not This Time draws well on the outside for this one and has fired a trio of rapid bullet moves at Santa Anita in advance of his second Grade 1 attempt. He has a ton of room for improvement with just a trio of runs to his credit, and the dark bay colt will be well placed throughout the contest with Flavien Prat retaining the ride.

Preakness second Gosger is a rapidly improving son of Nyquist who has been first or second in each of his four career runs to date for conditioner Brendan Walsh. The gray colt looked home free in the lane at Pimlico before getting run down in the latter stages of the event, and he could potentially appreciate the cut back in distance on Saturday with Luis Saez keeping the mount. I envision the homebred to be tracking the pace with intent every step of the way.

Haskell Stakes Expert Pick

A trifecta with #2 Journalism on top of #6 Gosger and #8 Goal Oriented in the 2025 Haskell is the Best Bet of the Week.

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