The 4-5 favorite on the morning line Journalism (Curlin) was out on the Monmouth Park racing strip first thing Wednesday morning as the colt makes his final preparations for Saturday's 58th running of the GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes, the track said via a Wednesday press release.
The Michael McCarthy-trainee arrived on Tuesday evening after an uneventful transcontinental flight from his Southern California base, jogged one mile around the oval under regular exercise rider Marc Witkowski.
“I've been galloping horses my whole life. I've been on Grade I winners. He is the best I've ever been on, by far,” said Witkowski, who has partnered in the mornings with Journalism since the colt first came into the barn as a 2-year-old.
“He's a strong horse and he's really smart,” said Witkowski. “He's a very intelligent horse and he just loves it out there. He's very competitive. He kind of puffs himself up but at the same time he's still calm and quiet.
McCarthy plans to arrive at Monmouth Park on Saturday to saddle the winner of the GI Preakness Stakes and the GI Santa Anita Derby, who is co-owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five, and the Coolmore Partners of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
Justin Curran, a longtime McCarthy assistant who has also worked under Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, is tightening the screws on the colt in the meantime.
“He's doing great. He traveled well and he's happy with himself,” said Curran. “He got over the track nice and easy. That's him. Every racetrack, he takes with him. We'll gallop a-mile-and-a-quarter tomorrow.”
'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented | Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Journalism, the only horse to contest all three legs of the Triple Crown this season, will meet Gosger (Nyquist) and 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time) in the Haskell.
Gosger, the third choice in the morning line at 9-2, is trained by Brendan Walsh and Goal Oriented, the second pick at 4-1, represents Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Goal Oriented shared the flight from the West Coast with Journalism and arrived at the Jersey Shore track Tuesday evening while Gosger vanned from Kentucky and shipped in Wednesday in the early morning hours.
Walsh assistant Stephan Dolan, who accompanied Gosger on his travels, said: “He's doing well and he's happy. He just relaxed today. He might walk this evening and do something small. He'll be out on the track in the morning. The boss will decide what he'll do. Brendan will be here on Friday.”
Baffert, the owner of the Haskell record of nine wins, said that Goal Oriented is a big, strong horse who has improved since his last effort in the Preakness.
“I feel good with the way he's coming into this race,” Baffert said. “He didn't go backwards on us. He's been moving forward. He's a much better horse than he was in the Preakness and he needs to be. Whether he's good enough, we'll see. I have a lot of respect for Journalism. This will be a good race.”
The 5-1 morning line choice Burnham Square (Liam's Map), the only other Grade I winner in the field who captured the Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland in April, is expected to arrive on Friday.
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