
Journalism wins the $1 million Haskell Stakes to earn trip to Breeders' Cup
The stretch run was vintage but Journalism's start in the 1 1/8-mile race was poor as the 3-year-old broke seventh in the eight-horse field. He seemed to struggle, taking a fair amount of kickback from the somewhat muddy track. But around the far turn he moved to the outside and started to pick off horses, almost coming even with Gosger and Goal Oriented, who were side-by-side on the rail, at the top of the stretch.
He still looked beaten mid-stretch but with about a furlong to go he got real interested, running in about four path, well clear of the other horses. Then his stride got more powerful and he breezed to a half-length win. It was his sixth win in nine lifetime races.
'I don't think he broke as well as we would have liked [Saturday],' said Michael McCarthy, Journalism's trainer. 'As soon as they got to the backside, he started engaging a little bit, but not quite like we've seen in previous races. It took him a little while to get to the front. I'm not sure if that was by design from [jockey] Umberto [Rispoli], but with a target in front of him. He's just a different horse.
Journalism, who went off at 2-5, paid $2.80 to win. Gosger was second followed by Goal Oriented, Bracket Buster, Burnham Square, National Law, Kentucky Outlaw and Wildncrazynight.
The win gave Journalism a free, expenses paid trip to the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The Haskell is part of the win-and-in program that helps to get the best horses to the Breeders' Cup.
The big question is where will Journalism run next. Given that he is based in Southern California, it wouldn't be surprising to see him in the Pacific Classic on Aug. 30 at Del Mar. It would be a good prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic for a couple reasons. It would be his first race against older horses (defined as horses 4 and older) and also that the Breeders' Cup is at Del Mar.
Journalism broke his maiden at Del Mar on Nov. 17. It would also mean little travel, a big plus considering Journalism has not run in Southern California since April 5 when he won the Santa Anita Derby. Saturday was his sixth race in five months and in five different states.
Another option, and likely the one favored by most fans, could be the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 23 for a potential rematch with Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Sovereignty. The Journalism-Sovereignty rivalry has been the best the sport has seen in a few years. Sovereignty has won both of their meetings, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, while Journalism won the Preakness, a race that Sovereignty skipped because of the two weeks of spacing between the first and second legs of the Triple Crown.
Journalism was the only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races.
Trainer McCarthy played his cards close when asked after the race what was up next for Journalism.
'Judging by the amount of mud on him, a pretty hot bath, a nice hot bubble bath and we'll get him back to the barn,' McCarthy said. 'We'll enjoy this tonight and kind of think about what we're going to do from here.'
Journalism was an $825,000 purchase by Eclipse Thoroughbreds, which includes Don Alberto Corp. as an investor. He was sired by Curlin with Mopotism as the mare. The daughter of Uncle Mo was euthanized on July 15 after complications from colic, a gastrointestinal issue. Mopotism, who ran in Southern California for trainer Doug O'Neill, was 11 when she died.
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UPI
a day ago
- UPI
Calandigan wins King George, Glorious Goodwood to have more top racing
Calandagan wins the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday, earning a "Win and You're In" bid to the Breeders' Cup Turf. Photo by Hattie Austin/ courtesy of Breeders' Cup July 28 (UPI) -- Royal Ascot rules racing springtime in England, but midsummer packs in some of the best of the year's action as the 3-year-olds start to test their elders and spots for big-ticket year-end races are on the block. The weekend's King George meeting at Ascot and this week's Glorious Goodwood are on the leading edge of that excitement. Here's a rundown, a look forward and a sideways glance at Germany and South Africa. England Calandagan chased down Kalpana in the final yards to land Saturday's Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot by 1 length with two-time Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance rallying to finish third after traffic issues. Coolmore's pair, Jan Brueghel and Continuous, led the way for most of the King George's 1 1/4 miles, but wilted when Kapana surged to the front midway down the straight. They finished next-last and last in the five-horse field. Kalpana, a 4-year-old Study of Man filly, with Oisin Murphy up, looked to have stolen a march on the field, but Mickael Barzalona had Calandagan wound up from the back of the pack and the Aga Khan Stud's homebred 4-year-old Gleneagles gelding got the job done. The tactics were a bit of a puzzler, as most thought Continuous was in the race to make a pace for Jan Brueghel, who had defeated Calandagan by 1/2 length in the Group 1 Coronation Cup using those tactics. Barzalona said he was surprised, too, to see jockey Ryan Moore put Jan Brueghel on the lead. "I didn't expect that one," Barzalona said. "But once I saw Continuous beside him and Rebel's Romance boxed in, I was happy where I was because I knew either William [Buick on Rebel's Romance] was going to make a gap or Oisin was going to have to go round. "I was just waiting to see what happened, and when I saw Oisin making the move, I just followed." The race was a "Win and You're In" for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Trainer Francis Graffard wasn't talking California in his post-race comments. "He's in the Juddmonte International, so why not go there?" he added, referring to the Group 1 at York on Aug. 20. "I wouldn't mind coming back and then maybe going to Japan at the end of the season. But I have to discuss it with the Aga Khan team and Princess Zahra." Kalpana, despite the defeat, was lowered into the favorite's role by many bookmakers for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, perhaps thanks to her win on soft turf in last October's Group 1 British Champions Filly & Mare Turf. Calandagan came to Ascot off a victory in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Before that, he had four straight seconds, all in Group 1 races. Also Saturday at Ascot, Fitzella captured the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes, improving on a fourth-place finish in the Group 3 Albany at the Royal meeting; and Cheshire Dancer landed the Group 3 Valiant Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 mile. On Friday at Ascot, Time to Turn shot to the lead in the final furlong of the Pat Eddery Stakes for 2-year-olds and held off the late run of A Bit of Spirit to win by a head. The Godolphin homebred Dark Angel colt finished second in his first two starts, won his third on the Wolverhampton all-weather and was favorite in Friday's field. Looking ahead ... Glorious Goodwood kicks off Tuesday with the Group 1 Goodwood Cup, a 2-mile staying test with Coolmore's Illinois and Scandinavia the top early picks. Wathnan Racing fields French Master. Nine-year-old Dubai Future is held at long odds in the eight-horse field, but has shown continued ability with a win in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup in April and a third (albeit beaten 13 lengths) in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor would like nothing more than to pick up his second top-level win in three days' time after winning Sunday in Munich. The highlight of the meeting arrives Wednesday in the Group 1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes. Field of Gold, romping winner of the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in his last start, is the overwhelming favorite. He and Coolmore's Henri Matisse, second at Ascot, try their luck against older horses for the first time. Field of Gold, a Juddmonte homebred trained by John and Thady Gosden, shares the top spot in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings with Ombudsman and Japanese star Forever Young. It's 3-year-olds against older rivals again Thursday in the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares. Pending declarations, Coolmore holds a strong hand with entries for Whirl, winner of the Group 1 Pretty Polly, and Bedtime Story, second in the Group 1 Prix de Diane or French Oaks. See the Fire, third behind Ombudsman in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting, also figures in this 1 1/4-mile test. Germany Tornado Alert racked up another German Group 1 win for Godolphin in Sunday's Grosser Dallmayr-Preis in Munich. Jockey Oisin Murphy kept the 3-year-old Too Darn Hot colt close enough to the pace throughout, easily took the lead turning for home and repulsed a late bid by the favorite, Wathnan Racing's Map of Stars, to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Lazio finished third, the best of the locals. Winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who won the event with Kutub in 2001 and Benbatl in 2018, picked up his first Group 1 win since October 2023. Neither of the top two features in the top ranks for upcoming Group 1 events, but Tornado Alert's odds were halved by some bookmakers for the Juddmonte International at York. Map of Stars' standing for the Arc took a tumble. South Africa Gladatorian turned the tables on Durban July winner The Real Prince in Saturday's Grade 1 HKJC Champions Day at Greyville, seeing off that rival by 1/2 length. The 5-year-old Vercingetorix gelding finished seventh in the July and third, behind Dave the King, in their previous


Fox Sports
a day ago
- Fox Sports
Last Night in Baseball: Cal Raleigh Hits Homers 40, 41, Extending MLB Lead
There is always baseball happening — almost too much baseball for one person to follow themselves. Don't worry, we're here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn't have. Here are all the best moments from the weekend in Major League Baseball: Raleigh is first to 40, then hits another Cal Raleigh, 2025 Home Run Derby winner and MLB home run leader, was a little slow on the dinger front coming off of the All-Star break. The Mariners' catcher picked up his first long ball of the second "half" on July 22, however, and then over the weekend went deep two more times. The first shot came on Saturday, giving Raleigh his 40th blast of the year — he's the first player in 2025 to 40, and to this point still the only one at that point. Not satisfied with that lead, however, Big Dumper added to it on Sunday with another homer. With Aaron Judge hitting the IL with a flexor strain, this flurry of home runs and RBIs is not great for his Triple Crown chances, which were already going to be contentious given the season Raleigh is having. Of course, there's still over two months of said season left, so it's a little early to be declarative in that regard either way. Classic Scherzer The Blue Jays' bullpen might have wasted the effort by allowing seven runs after his exit, but there was plenty to be excited about in Max Scherzer's start on Sunday. He went seven innings on 96 pitches, striking out 11 Tigers against zero walks, while allowing three runs and three hits. If he's shaken the rust off enough to look like that, then Toronto's rotation just got a bigger boost than expected. Now, that's one start, and Scherzer is (1) 40 years old and (2) just got his ERA for the season under five with that outing. However, if he can even be that guy on occasion, if that kind of pitcher is still in there somewhere this late in his career, then that's good news for the Blue Jays. Hey, he had a 3.89 ERA with 214 strikeouts over 196 innings between 2023 and 2024 — he might have something left in the tank just like the Jays hoped he did back when they signed him this past offseason. Trout finally reaches 1,000 RBIs Mike Trout hit a career milestone on Sunday: after a few days of sitting at 999 RBIs, he picked up numbers 1,000 and 1,001 with one swing of the bat, a two-run shot off of Logan Gilbert. That home run was also the 397th for the Angels' slugger, so he's real close to another notable round number in his career. After Trout goes yard three more times, he'll be just the eighth player with this hyperspecific set of career numbers: at least 1,000 RBIs, 1,000 runs, 400 home runs, 300 doubles, 50 triples and 200 steals. The current group is Willie Mays, Henry Aaron, Dave Winfield, Frank Robinson, Andre Dawson, Barry Bonds and Carlos Beltran. Pretty good company, and Trout's turning 34 next month — he's got plenty of time to try to work his way further up the ranks. A's sweep Astros. Wait, really? The Astros were very briefly on top of the world last week, but they've come crashing down since. They were tied for the best record in the American League with the Blue Jays when they woke up on Thursday morning, but then the big bad Athletics showed up on the schedule, and swept Houston. Not exactly the expected plans for the weekend, but the four consecutive losses now have the Astros at 60-46, four games up on the Mariners in the AL West but three games behind Toronto for the AL's top record. It was a bloodbath, too: the Astros lost 5-2 on Friday, but on Saturday they went down 15-3 thanks to allowing A's rookie Nick Kurtz to have a historic night at the plate , then were defeated 5-1 and 7-1 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The A's outscored the Astros 32-7 in four games, lopping 25 runs off of Houston's run differential for the season almost instantaneously and leaving it at +39. Meanwhile, the A's are still in the midst of a lost season – even after going +25 over four days, their run differential is at -121 – but it's at least one where they're playing much better of late, and seeing a rookie like Kurtz, who was drafted just last year fourth-overall, dominate like he has is a comfort when you put it next to their record. He's hitting .309/.378/.683 with 23 homers in 67 games, and if he can keep it up, he'll continue his streak — both amateur and professional — of never posting a full-season OPS below 1.000. He might be a good hitter. Rafaela reminds that he's not just an outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela is back to playing second base for the Red Sox with Marcelo Mayer on the 10-day IL, and you'd think he's been there the whole time rather than playing an excellent defensive outfield. Some guys just have all the instincts and athletic skill on the defensive side, however. Which Rafael reminded everyone of with this unassisted double play at second base against the Dodgers on Sunday: It looks impressive enough from that angle, but the zoomed-in slow-motion replay from another angle really adds to just how close the play was: That talk of his outfield defense isn't hyperbole, either: Rafaela was worth nearly two wins defensively by wins above replacement in 2024, and has already matched that in 2025 while leading in outfield assists with seven. That he can just slot in at second and look like he's a game-changer there, too, is wild. Schwarber had a defensive highlight, too Don't worry, it was befitting the Phillies' slugger. Kyle Schwarber might be known for his bat, and also let's say not known for his glove, but here he made it work. The ball took him down — likely revenge for the crimes Schwarber has committed against many a baseball — but in the end the out counted all the same. Cruz was cruising A week ago, we used this space to point out how fast Oneil Cruz was, when he rounded second and then casually headed home to score on a throwing error before the Tigers could figure out what was going on. He didn't need the trickery on Sunday, when he just straight-up outran the Diamondbacks' defensive effort by going first-to-home on a single. Cruz might be hitting .221 on the season, but he's got power (17 homers and .428 slugging despite that average), and he's got wheels (an MLB-leading 34 steals in 38 chances, plus plays like this one) to lean on. He's just fun to watch, even when the batting average isn't there. Imagine how could he could be if he could stick in even that .250 range or so? We're seeing double. Four triples! Saturday was a big day for triples in MLB, at least, for two players in particular. Jarren Duran had a pair of them against the Dodgers, in what ended up being a 4-2 win for Boston. And Michael Harris II had two of his own for the Braves against the Rangers. Though, Atlanta wasn't about to beat Texas in that one, dropping the game 6-5. MLB could use more triples. Duran seems to have no trouble hitting them — he led the majors with 14 in 2024, and has an AL-leading dozen this summer — while Corbin Carroll tied Duran a year ago and is the only player with more than him this year — but we could always use more. Sure, the tremendous ability of outfielders is part of why there's been a decline in these three-base beauties, but it's fine to want things. Healthy, even. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Cal Raleigh Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball recommended Item 1 of 2 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more


UPI
a day ago
- UPI
Sovereignty continues his reign among 3-year-olds with Jim Dandy win
July 28 (UPI) -- In a busy weekend of racing, Sovereignty stayed a step ahead in the ongoing 3-year-old battles with a handy victory in Saturday's Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, while Lovesick Blues captured a spot in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and Nysos took another step toward a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic. There's more, too so let's roll: Classic Sovereignty remains firmly entrenched atop the 3-year-old division after Saturday's seemingly effortless addition of the Grade II Jim Dandy to his victories in the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Fountain of Youth. The Godolphin homebred colt by Into Mischief shrugged off a field composed of Derby and Belmont third-place Baeza, Arkansas Derby winner and Preakness Stakes third-place Sandman, Ohio Derby winner Mo Plex and Peter Pan Stakes winner Hill Road. Only Baeza was competitive, moving to challenge for the lead on the stretch turn, but then unable to keep pace though the final furlong, finishing second, 1 length back. The others were in a different race. "I just trusted my horse," jockey Junior Alvarado said. "I knew he'd pick it up when I asked him to." Trainer Bill Mott indicated before the race the Jim Dandy was a stepping stone to the Grade I Travers Stakes. He could meet another old rival in that 1 1/4-mile race as Journalism prepped last weekend with a win in the Grade I Haskell at Monmouth. Alvarado said Sovereignty should have no trouble stretching back out from Saturday's 1 1/8 miles to the 1 1/4 miles of the Travers. "We haven't asked him to do much to win this race," Alvarado said. While the 3-year-olds continue their intramural scrum, things are shifting among the older runners. The weekend's biggest revelation was Nysos, who rallied to an easy win in Saturday's $300,000 Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. The Nyquist colt wasn't asked for his best by jockey Flavien Prat and still won by 2 3/4 lengths from Mirahmadi, giving trainer Bob Baffert the 1-2 finish. Nysos was one of the hottest commodities on the 2024 Triple Crown trail before being sidelined with physical issues. Baffert said the Grade I Pacific Classic might be next. Distaff Running Away came after pacesetter Fondly turning for home in Saturday's $252,000 Grade III Monmouth Oaks, breezed by and ran on to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Fondly held second. A Gun Runner filly, Running Away stopped the timer at 1:46.26 for 1 1/16 miles on a fast track, with Victor Espinoza in the irons for trainer Wesley Ward. She has won four of her last five starts with a eighth-place finish in the Grade I Ashland at Keeneland in the middle of that string. Literate found her best stride in the final furlong of Saturday's $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III Trillium Stakes at Woodbine and outfinished the odds-on favorite, Caitlinhergrtness for a 1/2-length score. A 5-year-old Oscar Performance mare, Literate ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:43.23, bagging her first graded stakes victory. Sahin Civaci rode for trainer Martin Drexler. Turf Formidable Man stuck close to the pace and close to the rail in Sunday's $250,000 Grade II Eddie Read Stakes and Del Mar, closed to take the lead in the stretch and won going away, with long-time leader Cabo Spirit hanging on for the place. Stay Hot was third as Formidable Man finished the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:48.55. Michael McCarthy noted the Breeders' Cup is at Del Mar again and that Formidable Man now has five win from five starts where the turf meets the surf. "He loves Del Mar," McCarthy said. "We'll space his races out and play it by ear." Filly & Mare Turf Daisy Flyer came flying through the final furlong of Saturday's $175,000 Lake George Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga and nailed pacesetting favorite Classic Q by a neck at the wire. Reining Flowers was a close third as Daisy Flyer finished 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:40.19. Jose Lezcano rode for trainer Rusty Arnold and owner-breeder Calumet Farm. The Mshawish filly got her second win, following a third, beaten just a neck in the Grade III Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 1. On Saturday at Woodbine, Candy Quest rallied from next-last of eight to win the $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III Ontario Colleen for 3-year-old fillies, hit the front by the sixteenth pole and won by 1 3/4 lengths over Somethinabouther. A Connect filly, Canda Quest ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:33.51, with Sahin Civaci riding for trainer Mark Casse. She was last seen finishing second in the tough Penn Oaks at Penn National. La Mehana swung out four-wide entering the stretch for the second time in Sunday's $250,000 Grade II Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga and left six rivals in her wake as she won by 8 3/4 lengths. The favorite, Bellezza, was best of the rest. La Mehana, a 6-year-old, French-bred mare, ran 1 1/2 miles on yielding turf in 2:30.54 with Flavien Prat up for trainer Miguel Clement. Sprint Lovesick Blues collared pacesetter Hejazi with a sixteenth of a mile to run in Saturday's $400,000 Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar and ran on to win by 1 3/4 lengths. The favorite, World Record, was third with an even effort. Lovesick Blues, a 7-year-old Grazen gelding who raced for a $28,000 claiming tag early in his career, finished 6 furlongs in 1:08.74 for jockey Geovanni Franco, picked up his first graded stakes win and earned a "Win and You're In" spot in the Breeders Cup Turf. Smoken Wicked pressed the pacesetting favorite, Macho Music, through the first few furlongs of Friday's $200,000 Grade II Amsterdam Stakes for 3-year-olds at Saratoga, disposed of that one and drew off to win by 5 3/4 lengths. Gunmetal and Gate to Wire filled out the trifecta, while Macho Music got home fourth. Smoken Wicked, a Louisiana-bred colt by Bobby's Wicked One, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:15.64. Patriot Spirit, the odds-on favorite, asserted himself in the stretch run of Saturday's $100,000 Reigh Count Stakes at Colonial Downs, drawing off to win by 4 lengths from Inveigled. The 4-year-old Constitution colt, with Mychel Sanchez riding for trainer Michael Campbell, toured 7 furlongs on a fast strip in 1:21.01. Filly & Mare Sprint Alani dueled to the lead in Saturday's $100,000 Love Sign Stakes at Colonial Downs, shook clear passing the quarter pole and ran on to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Happy Clouds. The favorite, Top Gun Girl, faded to finish next-last. Alani, a 4-year-old Competitive Edge filly, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.25 toting Andy Hernandez. Turf Sprint Pushiness jumped right to the lead in Saturday's $100,000 Daisycutter Handicap for fillies and mares at Del Mar, opened a daylight advantage and held on by a nose over late-running Uncorked. A 4-year-old Kantharos filly, Pushiness ran 5 furlongs on firm turf in 56.88 under Juan Hernandez. It was the fifth win for the Michael McCarthy trainee.