The $1 million Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park is a premier 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old males and a qualifier for the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic. It serves as a key event bridging the Triple Crown and the Travers Stakes, with a history of producing champions like American Pharoah and Rachel Alexandra. This year’s field includes eight colts and geldings, headlined by Preakness winner Journalism, who is the clear favorite despite a demanding campaign. Other notable contenders are Gosger and Goal Oriented, both of whom showed strong performances in the Preakness and could challenge Journalism if he encounters trouble.

Analysts Laurie and Ashley both favor Journalism to win, with Gosger and Goal Oriented as the main threats. Laurie highlights the advantage of inside post positions and notes that pace pressers have historically done well in the Haskell. Ashley points to Kentucky Outlaw and Burnham Square as potential exotic bets, though Bracket Buster is considered inconsistent despite a Pegasus Stakes win. Overall, the consensus is that Journalism stands head and shoulders above the competition, but Gosger and Goal Oriented have the talent to upset if conditions favor them.