Journalism Adds Third G1 to Resume in Haskell

Journalism continued to show he’s one of the best horses in his division on Saturday when the future Coolmore stallion won the Grade I Haskell Stakes at Monmouth.

Making his first start since finishing second in the Grade I Belmont Stakes in the 1 1/8-mile dirt race, the colt went off as a well-deserved heavy favorite here. He broke a step slowly and had to take up a position near the back of the field but settled well into that spot.

Down the backstretch, Umberto Rispoli let his colt start creeping forward with Journalism just behind the leaders at the top of the stretch. Two others were battling down the inside, but Journalism ate up the margin between himself and the win to get up for a perfectly timed half-length victory.

“He can be tactical. You can ride him from behind, you can ride him from everywhere,” said Rispoli. “But today, I think, he was most special, probably more than the Preakness.

This was the sixth win in nine career starts for the Michael McCarthy trainee, who races for Coolmore, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, and Robert LaPenta.

The colt also won the Grade I Preakness Stakes and Grade I Santa Anita Derby with seconds in the Grade I Kentucky Derby and Grade I Belmont Stakes.

Purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners from Denali Stud for $825,000 and bred by co-owner Don Alberto, he is out of Grade II winner and multiple Grade I placed Mopotism. That mare is a daughter of Uncle Mo and is one of four winners out of a half-sister to Grade II winner Songster.

Journalism is set to join Ashford’s roster at the conclusion of his racing career.