Latest news with #MonmouthPark
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Haskell Handicapping Challenge Returns
Haskell Handicapping Challenge Returns originally appeared on Paulick Report. Coming off a year in which more than 320 players competed for over $160,000 in cash and prizes, Monmouth Park's $1,000 Haskell Handicapping Challenge returns on Saturday, July addition to featuring Monmouth's premier day of racing – headlined by the $1 million, Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell and the G2 United Nations – Haskell Day also is home to one of the nation's biggest handicapping contests. The Haskell Challenge can only be played online through ADW partners Xpressbet, TVG, and 4NJBETS. Players competing through TVG and 4NJBETS must pre-register with tournament director Brian Skirka by 3 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, July 18. Xpressbet players may pre-register with Skirka or sign up directly through Xpressbet up until noon on contest day. Per contest rules, there is a maximum of two entries per 2024 Haskell Challenge – won by New Jersey resident Pete Rogers – saw a record 323 entries. In total, the contest awarded 10 seats to the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC), two seats to the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), and $50,000 cash. This year's event is expected to attract the same kind of attention amongst contest players.'A handicapping contest is only as successful as the support it receives from horseplayers,' said Skirka. 'I couldn't be more thankful for the support shown to the Haskell Challenge – and all Monmouth Park contests – by contest players across the country. Haskell Day has always been a premier day of racing, which makes it the perfect day to host a major handicapping contest.'To pre-register, players should contact Skirka at 732-571-6595 or bskirka@ A player's $1,000 buy-in is broken down into a $500 bankroll and $500 to the prize pool. All players must bet a minimum of five races at $100 apiece. Win, place, show, exacta, and doubles are permitted. All Monmouth Park live races make up the wagering players looking to win their way into the Haskell Handicapping Challenge, feeder contests are available on through Friday, July total, Monmouth Park will host over 10 handicapping contests throughout 2025. A full list of contest dates and rules can be found at This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Journalism Headlines Haskell: Pros And Cons For All Eight Contenders
Umberto Rispoli, atop Journalism, during the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes horse race ... More Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The $1 million Grade 1 NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes takes center stage Saturday at Monmouth Park, and all eyes are on Journalism, the Preakness winner and the only horse in the field to have contested all three legs of the Triple Crown. Installed as the 4-5 morning-line favorite, the son of Curlin looks to add another marquee victory to a growing résumé that already includes Grade 1 wins in the Santa Anita Derby and Preakness. Trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Journalism enters off a runner-up effort in the Belmont Stakes and boasts a record of 5-2-1 from 8 starts with over $3.1 million in earnings. A bullet six-furlong drill on July 12 suggests he's sitting on another big one. Pros: Proven against elite competition, tactical speed, consistent form, elite Coming off a demanding Triple Crown campaign; could be vulnerable to fresher horses. The Challengers 1. Bracket Buster (10-1) – John Velazquez takes the call on this colt who breaks from the rail. He enters under the radar but has been steadily improving. Pros: Hall of Fame jockey aboard, potential to surprise with ground-saving Yet to prove himself at the top level; slower on paper than main rivals. 3. Wildncrazynight (30-1) – Longest shot on the board, he'll need a significant jump in performance to contend. Pros: Could benefit from a pace meltdown; local connections know the Light on class; outmatched on paper. 4. Burnham Square (5-1) – A Grade 1 winner in the Blue Grass Stakes, this Ian Wilkes trainee is known for his adaptability and improving form. Pros: Versatile running style, Grade 1 winner, consistent training Disappointed in the Derby; still needs to prove he belongs with the very best. 5. National Law (20-1) – Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides this longshot who's stepping up in class. Pros: Elite jockey, has shown flashes of Lightly raced, untested against top competition, tough post between contenders. 6. Gosger (9-2) – Ran a gutsy second to Journalism in the Preakness and continues to trend upward for trainer Brendan Walsh. Pros: Improving with every start, nearly upset the Preakness, pedigree suggests further Still inexperienced compared to others; may need a perfect trip to turn the tables. 7. Kentucky Outlaw (15-1) – Trained by a sharp barn, he's an intriguing wild card with Florent Geroux in the saddle. Pros: May get overlooked in the wagering, potential to improve off recent Lacks a standout performance; up against proven stakes horses. 8. Goal Oriented (4-1) – Trainer Bob Baffert seeks a record-extending 10th Haskell win with this athletic colt, who was fourth in the Preakness and shows signs of mental and physical maturity. Pros: Baffert in the Haskell is always dangerous, strong recent works, top jockey Flavien Has yet to put it all together in a top-level race; wide post could be tricky. The Haskell headlines a 14-race card that features six stakes (five graded) and serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar this fall. First post is noon ET, with the Haskell set for 5:45 p.m. and televised live on NBC. Looking to bet the race? Head to for expert picks, pace analysis, and race-day wagering strategies to help you tackle the full Haskell Day card with confidence.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Haskell Stakes A Potentia;l Gateway To Glory
Preakness Champ Journalism headlines the 2025 Haskell Stakes The Haskell Stakes has been one of the signature races at Monmouth Park since 1968. Now with grade 1 status, a $1 million purse, and listed as a Breeders' Cup Classic win and you're in race, this jog over the New Jersey dirt has become the place to be for top three-year-old males. With many more exciting races in the division to follow throughout the summer, the Haskell serves as a race that helps determine contenders from pretenders. The 2025 edition features a very competitive eight horse field. Let's take a quick look at the entrants and provide a thought on those breaking from the gates on July 19 with trainer, jockey, and morning line. Carded as race 12, the expected post time is 5:45 eastern.1 Bracket Buster (Victoria Oliver, John Velazquez 10-1)- Romped home seven lengths clear at Monmouth on June 14 in the Pegasus Stakes picking his first win in three starts this year . Front-running style means he could absolutely affect the early pace from his rail position. If this speedy son of Vekoma were to somehow be left alone on the lead he could certainly bust a few brackets. 2 Journalism (Michael McCarthy, Umberto Rispoli 4-5) The Preakness champ and runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes deserves to be odds on after those three performances in a five-week span. Yes, this son of Curlin is the class of the field, but in this game, there are no givens. With a clear run, the Santa Anita Derby champ will be awfully hard to beat. 3 Wildncrazynight (Dan Ward, Isaac Castillo 30-1)- Local runner that finished second in the Pegasus at Monmouth and has started seven times this year with one win. This son of Midnight Lute will be making his first start in graded stakes company and should he win, it would be wild and crazy. Burnham Square won the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland in April 4 Burnham Square (Ian Wilkes, Brian Hernandez Jr. 5-1)- Six of eight career starts in the top three with wins in the Holy Bull Stakes and Bluegrass Stakes and over $1 million in career earnings. Son of Liam's Map was a troubled sixth in the Kentucky Derby and a closing second in the Matt Winn Stakes in his last start. All that means he is a horse that can be there at the end. 5 National Law (Jorge Duarte Jr., Irad Ortiz Jr. 20-1)-This son of Constitution has two wins in five career starts but has never been in graded stakes company. Has run at Monmouth twice with both being fourth place finishes. Has a top jockey in the irons, but can't see him being ratified here. 6 Gosger (Brendan Walsh, Luis Saez 9-2)-Only four career starts but two have been in graded stakes company. Looked like the upset winner of the Preakness until the final jumps. Has shown the signs of being something special and has the jockey to get it done here. 7 Kentucky Outlaw (Felisse Dunn, Florent Geroux 15-1)-Three wins in five career starts at four different tracks with one of his victories coming in the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth. This is a big asking of this son of Outwork, but of the longer shots, he might be the one to put in your superfecta. 8 Goal Oriented (Bob Baffert, Flavien Prat 4-1)- How can a horse that's onmly raced three times with no stakes wins be the second choice?...Bob Baffert has won this race a record nine times and NOBODY is better at getting a horse ready for a grade 1 race. Outside post means he will likely want to be on the lead. Not sure if he can take'em all the way, but he is conditioned by Bob Baffert.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Christine Bossinakis Wins Monmouth's Bill Handleman Award
Christine Bossinakis Wins Monmouth's Bill Handleman Award originally appeared on Paulick Report. 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 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. First presented in 2012, the Handleman Award honors distinguished media coverage of the $1 million, Grade 1 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 the Asbury Park Press. Handleman, a fixture at Monmouth Park and a passionate chronicler of the sport, died in June of 2010 at the age of 62. Advertisement Bossinakis, who hails from Montreal, Canada, has worked as an on-air racing analyst, as a TV handicapper and paddock reporter, and as a racing TV show host in addition to her role at Thoroughbred Daily News. She co-authored the book 'Sermon on the Mount' with the late Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. 'This means a lot. I've always had a soft spot for Monmouth Park from working there with TVG,' Bossinakis said. 'I have spent a lot of time with the people at Monmouth Park, so it makes it a special honor for me. 'It's nice to feel rewarded when you put your heart and soul into something you love, so I am very appreciative.' Monmouth Park general manager John Heims called Bossinakis 'the consummate professional.' 'Her knowledge of Thoroughbred racing, both historical and current, never fails to impress,' said Heims. 'In addition to her excellent coverage of last year's Haskell on the Thoroughbred Daily News site, she has excelled in a variety of roles in the racing industry.' The first recipient of the Handleman Award was Tom Luicci of The Star-Ledger, followed by Steve Edelson of The Asbury Park Press in 2013, Dave Johnson of Sirius XM in 2014, Ed McNamara of Newsday in 2015, Bob Ehalt of and Bloodhorse in 2016, Tom Cassidy of in 2017, Jim Dunleavy of Daily Racing Form in 2018, Mike Farrell of The Associated Press in 2019, Steve Byk of At the Races With Steve Byk in 2020, Matt Shifman of Horse Racing Nation in 2021, John Brennan of in 2022, announcer/TV racing analyst Larry Collmus in 2023 and videographer Carlos Morales of Agentes 305 last year. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
