BC Classic watch: Journalism wins, Sovereignty's turn

This is the second installment of a weekly feature at Horse Racing Nation that tracks Breeders’ Cup Classic horses all the way through the $7 million race on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

The best of the summertime racing action got off to a red-hot start on Saturday as Journalism once again displayed his penchant for the dramatic. A fiery late charge carried him to a popular victory in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The only horse to run in all three legs of the 2025 Triple Crown series was a big favorite on the Jersey Shore but had to overcome a speed-favoriting racetrack and a pair of talented and game 3-year-olds in Gosger and Goal Oriented.

In victory, the son of Curlin once again showed courage, desire and an outright will to win. These qualities, as well as his durability and consistency make Journalism a very popular horse as he marches toward a date in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

He earned an automatic spot in the big one, but things will only get tougher from here for the five-time graded-stakes winner. Look for the Michael McCarthy trainee to pass on next month’s Travers Stakes (G1), and another showdown with Sovereignty and instead point for the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) on Aug. 30.

The 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic would allow Journalism to stay at home for a change as he takes on older horses for the first time. It also will give him a prep race over the same track and at the same distance as the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

As for Gosger and Goal Oriented, both colts are still lightly raced and turned in strong performances in the Haskell. The latter will be pointed for the Travers in five weeks. We will wait to see where trainer Brendan Walsh targets Gosger next.

Although many in this strong 3-year-old male division do their best running from behind, these two both have good tactical speed, which should serve them well in the future. Also, keep in mind they have made only nine lifetime starts combined. But both remain only fringe players for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at this point.

Speaking of 3-year-olds with speed, we now know that Magnitude will be headed to the Travers next. The son of Not This Time had to miss the Triple Crown series because of a physical setback but was a very impressive winner of the Risen Star (G2) in February and the recent Iowa Derby in his last two starts. His speed will be a welcome addition to the mid-summer Derby at Saratoga.

Prepping for the Travers this week at Saratoga will be five colts entered in Saturday's Jim Dandy Stakes (G2). The 1 1/8-mile affair will be headlined by the deserving division leader Sovereignty.

He was a convincing winner over Journalism in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, though he skipped the Preakness and an opportunity at a Triple Crown. The strapping son of Into Mischief will be a heavy favorite on Saturday.

Anything other than a win in the Jim Dandy would be looked at as a disappointment for the early Breeders' Cup Classic favorite. But this could be a tricky spot for the powerhouse late-runner.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott likely will not have him geared up 100% in the race before the Travers, and there is very little early speed signed on in the compact field. Upset in the Florida Derby (G1) before his Kentucky Derby victory, the mighty Sovereignty is no sure thing on Saturday.

The other four in the Jim Dandy all are capable. Third in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, the well-bred Baeza might still have improvement ahead and is working well for trainer John Shirreffs.

Arkansas Derby (G1) hero Sandman will add blinkers in his first start since a third in the Preakness. Peter Pan (G3) winner Hill Road will need to improve off his fifth in the Belmont, and Ohio Derby (G3) winner Mo Plex could be dangerous stepping up as lone speed.

Shifting attention to the West Coast, one of the biggest wildcards among Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders has to be Nysos. He has so many question marks, but he also has serious talent.

After a full 15 months away from the races, he has returned with two strong performances. Both his near miss in the Churchill Downs (G1) and an easy win in the Triple Bend (G3) came at seven furlongs. Can he be a force at the 1 1/4-mile distance? And will he stay healthy? We will learn more about the three-time graded-stakes winner in a matter of days.

Trained by Bob Baffert, the son of Nyquist will be heavily favored to dominate his competition in Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile San Diego Handicap (G2) on Saturday at Del Mar. He has been looking sharp in recent workouts, and another impressive win could set up a Pacific Classic showdown with Journalism.

The next Breeders’ Cup Classic Challenge series race on the schedule will be Saratoga’s Whitney (G1) on Saturday, Aug. 2. Those expected for the $1 million affair at Saratoga include the champion Fierceness; the last two winners of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Sierra Leone and White Abarrio; and multiple graded-stakes-winning veteran Skippylongstocking.

Track all the top contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic here each week.

New to the list: Goal Oriented and Skippylongstocking

Dropped from the list: Burnham Square and Just a Touch