Journalism totes top weight in San Diego ‘Cap

After thirds in the all-star Oaklawn H. (G2) and Metropolitan H. (G1), Journalism stays on his home circuit in Southern California as the headliner in Saturday’s $300,000 San Diego H. (G2) at Del Mar. The Michael McCarthy trainee reunites with his formerly regular jockey Umberto Rispoli, who guided Journalism to his biggest victories in last year’s Preakness (G1) and Haskell (G1).

San Diego H. (G2)

The 1 1/16-mile San Diego serves as the local prep for the Aug. 22 Pacific Classic (G1), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Journalism competed in both races as a sophomore last year, placing second to Fierceness in the Pacific Classic and fourth to transpacific champion Forever Young in the Breeders’ Cup.

Journalism’s pattern of running respectably in defeat has continued into his four-year-old campaign. The April 18 Oaklawn ‘Cap served up a rematch with archrival Sovereignty, the 2025 Horse of the Year who had beaten Journalism in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1), but their comeback did not set up particularly well for either of them. They uncharacteristically hooked up early and got run down by classy veteran White Abarrio.

In the June 6 Met Mile at Saratoga, Journalism reverted to his more typically patient tactics, but he was no match for the imperious Nysos. Nor could he catch the smart Knightsbridge at a distance that arguably suited him better than the natural router Journalism.

Although Journalism won’t have to face superstars in the San Diego, where he stretches back out to two turns, he must concede weight all around. The son of Curlin will tote the top weight of 125 pounds, a spread of as many as seven pounds.

Journalism’s rivals include John Sadler’s South American-bred duo of Full Serrano and The Goat. Argentine import Full Serrano, the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) upsetter, hopes to end a five-race losing skid. The Goat, a former Chilean Horse of the Year, aims to improve from a fourth in the Triple Bend (G3) in his U.S. bow.

Perhaps the most intriguing entrant is Iron Man Cal, a high-class turf performer who switches to dirt for Phil D’Amato. The near-misser in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) to Aidan O’Brien’s Henri Matisse, Iron Man Cal recently won his first start as a gelding. If he’s anything like his sire Collected, the 2017 Pacific Classic hero and runner-up to Gun Runner in that fall’s Breeders’ Cup, Iron Man Cal will relish the Del Mar main track. Stablemate Shea Brennan just came off the bench to win the Bertrando S. in state-restricted company at Los Alamitos.

Bob Baffert’s Mirahmadi, last seen playing second fiddle to stablemate Nysos in the 2025 San Diego, resurfaces from a year-long layoff here. Mc Vay exits a distant third in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G2).

San Clemente H. (G2)

While the San Diego is a local affair, the $200,000 San Clemente H. (G2) has attracted a trio of shippers with a view toward the Aug. 22 Del Mar Oaks (G1).

Grade 2 winner Ground Support returns to the scene of her solid third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), where she fared best of the North Americans. The Kelsey Danner filly was fifth in her belated reappearance in the Tepin S. at Churchill Downs. Spirit Doll is a two-time stakes winner at Gulfstream Park for Saffie Joseph Jr.

Brendan Walsh sends over the aptly-named Raiding Party for her stakes debut. The Irish-bred just captured a Churchill allowance despite a wide trip, and she’s much better drawn on the rail at Del Mar. 

Marjoram, who disappointed in the Summertime Oaks (G3) on the dirt, is eligible to rebound back on turf. Trained by McCarthy for Juddmonte, the homebred went last to first in the Senorita (G3) on Santa Anita’s downhill course.

Four fillies exit the June 6 Honeymoon S. at this mile distance – near-misser Inbox; third Lookin at Diamond; fourth Light Won Up (previously second in the Senorita); and fifth Wild Like the West, who takes the blinkers off on Saturday. Wild Like the West had missed narrowly in last fall’s Blue Norther S. and the April 5 Providencia S. 

Inbox is one of a trio of runners for D’Amato, who was won the San Clemente three of the past four years. His other entrants are last-out allowance scorer Peanutbutterbombe, a stakes-placed full sister to graded-caliber performer Vive Veuve, and maiden romper Cortina d’Amprezzo. Also graduating from a maiden win is Sadler’s Somerset West.

The San Clemente goes as the ninth race at 9 p.m. ET, following the San Diego scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.