Haskell

Haskell Winner Journalism Heads West, Goal Oriented to Contest Travers

Trainer Michael McCarthy remained noncommittal Sunday as to the next move with GI NYRA Bets Haskell victor Journalism (Curlin). Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five, and the Coolmore connections of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith,. However, Bob Baffert confirmed that Haskell third-place finisher, TDN Rising Star Goal Oriented (Not This Time), would make his next start in the GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 23. "We'll get him home. He's flying home on Tuesday and then back [to the East Coast] for the...

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Mopotism, Dam Of Journalism, Dies From Colic Complications

GSW/MGISP Mopotism (Uncle Mo), the dam of GI Preakness Stakes winner and this weekend's GI Haskell Stakes favorite Journalism, has died from complications of colic, Don Alberto Corp confirmed Tuesday. Social media posts, which credit an Instagram message, read: "Mopotism, mother of Journalism, has died due to complications from colic at Don Alberto USA. She leaves two unraced products, a yearling filly daughter of Into Mischief and a 2-month old filly by Flightline." Don Alberto mourned the loss of their mare with the following message: "We are heartbroken to report...

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Christina Bossinakis wins Bill Handleman Award
TDN's Christina Bossinakis Named 2025 Bill Handleman Award Winner

The TDN's Christina Bossinakis, senior editor for the Thoroughbred Daily News and a prominent TV racing personality, has been named the winner of the 2025 Bill Handleman Award for outstanding coverage of last year's NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, Monmouth Park announced Tuesday. First presented in 2012, the Handleman Award honors distinguished media coverage of the GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, Monmouth Park's showcase race. It is presented annually prior to the Haskell. The award honors the late Bill Handleman, one of New Jersey's top sportswriters for nearly three decades for...

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Journalism Targets Haskell

Aron Wellman, who heads the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners syndicate which is a co-owner of GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin), said his colt will run next in the July 19 GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. "If all goes well this coming weekend and he works to (trainer) Michael McCarthy's satisfaction and comes out of his work with good energy, the Haskell is Option A," Wellman said. "What are options B and C? I haven't thought beyond that. The Haskell is our target. If we find any reason for him...

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Vekoma's Bracket Buster Romps in Pegasus, Punches Ticket for Haskell

Bracket Buster (Vekoma) was all about the slop as he bounded home with ears pricked in the NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. Kicking off his 2025 season in a big way two back Apr. 12, he was run down late in the lane to claim second in the GIII Lexington Stakes at Keeneland behind the "almost" GI Preakness shocker Gosger (Nyquist), who came a half-length shy of spoiling the fun for MGISW Journalism (Curlin) at Pimlico. He faded to seventh last out May 3 against optional claimers at...

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Dornoch Retires to Spendthrift Following Training Setback

Dornoch (Good Magic--Puca, by Big Brown), a leading 3-year-old colt with impressive wins in the 2024 GI Belmont Stakes and GI Haskell Stakes, has been diagnosed with bone bruising, which will force him to miss his planned final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Dornoch, fourth in the GI Travers Stakes last out, has been retired from racing and will begin his stud career at Spendthrift Farm in 2025. "Dornoch's performance in the Travers really wasn't what we expected, and we just have not been happy with the way...

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Breeders' Cup Connections: Schaefer Living the Dream with Dornoch

For many people, their passion for racing started with a horse. They watched Zenyatta dance to two Breeders' Cup victories, they had a strong opinion in the rivalry between Affirmed and Alydar or maybe they cheered American Pharoah on to a Grand Slam score when he won the 2015 Classic. For Priscilla Schaefer, her love of racing all started with a backstretch. She was in high school when she attended her first horse race at Emerald Downs outside of Seattle, Washington. Watching as the horses entered the starting gate, Schaefer...

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Saratoga Notebook, Presented By NYRA Bets: McPeek Says He Will Make Travers Decision on Thorpedo Anna Saturday

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A final decision on whether or not 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) will run against the boys in the $1.25 million GI Travers Stakes will be made on Saturday. That's the deadline trainer Kenny McPeek put on himself Sunday morning, the day after his 3-year-old filly dominated the GI Coaching Club American Oaks, winning by 4 1/2 lengths. "We are going to take the week, get her back on the track Wednesday, and I will make a decision Saturday," McPeek said, sitting in his...

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How Spendthrift Got Dornoch: A Q&A With Ned Toffey

It was announced during the telecast of the GI Haskell Stakes that Dornoch (Good Magic) will stand at stud at Spendthrift Farm. Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey addresses another big move by his team. TDN: What is it about Dornoch that makes him a good stallion candidate? NT: He's obviously got a great pedigree and he's a very talented horse. We always thought he was a really talented horse. They tried to rate him in the Blue Grass and he got wiped out from the one hole in the Derby....

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Sierra Leone Gets Final Jim Dandy Prep For Brown

'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) breezed a solo four furlongs Sunday in :49.73 over the Oklahoma training track for trainer Chad Brown in his final work before Saturday's GII Jim Dandy Stakes. NYRA clockers noted an opening quarter-mile in :25.25 and a gallop out in 1:02.68, 1:14.93 and 1:28.92. "He did super. He's in a nice rhythm," said Brown. "He's been working solo on the training track - I'm liking it. He galloped out with good energy. That's just what I'm looking for six days out." Sierra Leone...

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The Week In Review: You Still Don't Respect Dornoch? That's Your Problem, Not His

Dornoch (Good Magic) didn't get much respect heading into the GI Belmont Stakes, and his bandwagon wasn't exactly overburdened with supporters after his 17-1 victory over 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution), either. On Saturday at Monmouth Park, bettors let the winner of the third leg of the Triple Crown go as the tepid 3.4-1 third choice in the seven-horse GI Haskell Stakes, believing with 4-5 certainty that a now-more-experienced Mindframe wouldn't, for a second straight race, allow Dornoch to claw back the lead in deep stretch like he did six...

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Saratoga Notebook, Presented by NYRA Bets: McPeek Not Feeling the Heat as Thorpedo Anna Looks For Another Win

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Pressure? What pressure. There was none of that over at trainer Kenny McPeek's barn at the Oklahoma Annex Friday morning. Even though the stable star--the imposing, impressive and almost undefeated 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna)--is running on Saturday, no one on McPeek's staff was sweating bullets. Thorpedo Anna is the 1-2 morning-line favorite in the $500,000 GI Coaching Club American Oaks at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga Race Course. She has won five of six career starts and has won all three of her races...

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