Journalism escapes trouble, gallantly surges to win Preakness

Journalism put his class and toughness on full display in Saturday's 150th running of the $2 million Preakness (G1), dramatically rallying to win by a half-length after being interfered with and severely bumped around in midstretch. The bay son of Curlin closed fast late to overhaul Gosger, and regular rider Umberto Rispoli was up on the even-money favorite at Pimlico.

“I still can’t realize what this horse did today,” Rispoli said. “I got in trouble at the quarter pole and, look, he make himself keep going. It’s all about him. It’s a privilege to ride a horse like him.”

The Michael McCarthy-trained colt earned a measure of redemption after faltering as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1), finishing 1 1/2 lengths back of Sovereignty in second, and Journalism completed the 1 3/16-mile distance in 1:55.47. 

“Big day,” McCarthy said. “I think when we got beat a couple of weeks ago in the Kentucky Derby, I was upset. But it wasn’t the end of the world. We re-rallied, and things were good today.

“When I saw that (mid-stretch bumping), I thought it was another solid effort and, unfortunately, he was going to come up just a little bit short. For sure, he got the worst of it. Hats off to Umberto and Journalism for persevering. I think today you saw what it takes to be a champion. Today was his day. He had been telling us all along he was sort of ready for an effort like that.”

It was a tough beat for Gosger, who tracked pacesetter Clever Again through opening splits in 23.19, :46.66, and 1:10.23 before driving to a clear lead off the far turn, opening a five-length advantage with three-sixteenths of a mile remaining. 

“I’m disappointed not to win it, but I’m not disappointed in the horse,” trainer Brendan Walsh said of Gosger. “He ran a great race. He is an improving horse, and he will improve off this today. Luis (Saez) got off him and said, ‘this is a helluva horse.’ Maybe we will get our turn the next time. I thought we were home when he opened up. Luis said at the end, he just got a little bit lackadaisical, and he was out on his own, maybe a little too long, and the other horse came by and flew by him. Here is a horse to look forward to, absolutely.”

Journalism broke well from post 2 and saved ground while rating off the pace in sixth, advancing along the inside on the far turn while under urging, and he closed between horses while straightening into the stretch. However, the situation got scary when Goal Oriented began to drift from the outside toward the rail, squeezing and forcing Journalism to pin-ball off Clever Again to his inside and Goal Oriented.

After taking a few strides, Journalism got back on track with a powerful turn of foot, gobbling up ground while switching outside to prevail in the final strides.

Gosger, who was overlooked at 15-1 in his fourth career start after winning the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland and a maiden race, held second by 2 1/4 lengths over Sandman, who closed from last in the nine-horse field to be a clear third as the 6-1 third choice. It was another four lengths to Goal Oriented, followed by Heart of Honor, River Thames, Pay Billy, American Promise, and 5-1 second choice Clever Again.

Campaigned by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables, Robert LaPenta, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor, Journalism sold for $825,000 as a yearling at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. 

He broke his maiden when stretching to two turns at Del Mar the second time out last November and concluded his juvenile season with a victory in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) a month later. After opening his three-year-old season with a sharp win in the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita in early March, Journalism overcame adversity on the far turn of the Santa Anita Derby (G1), winning impressively by about a length.

His career record now reads 7-5-1-1, with earnings of more than $2.8 million, and Journalism figures to be a major player in the three-year-old male divisional race, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) picture, over the rest of the season.

The stage is set for a possible rematch with Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty in the final leg of the Triple Crown, the 1 1/4-mile Belmont (G1) at Saratoga in three weeks.

“We’re going to go ahead and figure that out,” McCarty said when asked about the Belmont.

Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation, Journalism is the first starter out of the Grade 2-winning mare Mopotism, a daughter of Uncle Mo.

It was the final Preakness at the existing facility, with Pimlico scheduled to be demolished and rebuilt by the 2027 edition. The middle jewel of the Triple Crown will be held at Laurel Park next year.