Journalism Wins 150th Preakness Stakes After Improbable Comeback

BALTIMORE, MD – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Journalism, a beaten favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1) two weeks earlier, came through for his backers Saturday at Pimlico Race Course with a courageous stretch surge to capture the 150^th Preakness Stakes (G1).  

Saturday’s Preakness was the final running of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown to be hosted by the current Pimlico facility, affectionately known as ‘Old Hilltop,’ before it is demolished to make way for a modern building that is scheduled for completion in time for the 2027 Preakness. Laurel Park will host next year’s 151^st Preakness.

The $2 million Preakness headlined a blockbuster 14-race program featuring 10 stakes, five graded, worth $3.3 million in purses.

Michael McCarthy-trained Journalism, who finished second after being passed in the stretch by Sovereignty in the Derby, appeared to be hard-pressed to overtake longshot Gosger after encountering serious pumping in the stretch run of the historic 1 3/16-mile Classic. Yet, the 3-year-old son of 2007 Preakness winner, two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Hall of Famer Curlin kicked into high gear under jockey Umberto Rispoli to edge past Gosger, a 15-1 longshot ridden by Luis Saez.

“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,” McCarthy said. “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 the second Preakness win for McCarthy, former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, following Rombauer in 2021. Rispoli, a two-time champion rider in Italy who earlier on the card won the $150,000 Gallorette (G3) aboard Charlene’s Dream, earned his first success in a Triple Crown race.

Journalism’s effort was reminiscent of his victory in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), in which he rallied late after being stopped on the turn into the homestretch. Once again he displayed his resolve to overcome trouble.

Rispoli settled Journalism along the rail to save ground in the early stages as Clever Again darted out to an early lead pressed to his outside by Gosger, the last-out Lexington (G3) winner. They went the opening quarter-mile in 23.19 seconds and were still in front after a half in 46.66, when River Thames worked his way into contention along with Goal Oriented.

As they rounded the far turn Rispoli tipped Journalism off the inside to launch their bid but the opening they sought closed quickly as Goal Oriented ducked in and bumped with Journalism, causing him to bother Clever Again racing inside. As that was going on, Gosger was able to scoot away to a seemingly insurmountable lead.

Journalism budged his way through and regathered his momentum as Rispoli set his sights on the loose leader. Coming with a relentless drive through the stretch, Journalism was able to reel in Gosger and edge clear by a half-length to win in 1:55.47 over a fast main track.

It was 2 ¼ lengths back to third-place finisher Sandman, who was four lengths in front of Goal Oriented in fourth. Completing the order of finish were British import Heart of Honor, River Thames, Pay Billy, American Promise and Clever Again, who was eased across the wire.

Sent off at even-money by an enthusiastic on-track crowd, Journalism returned $4 to win in becoming the 74^th favorite to win the Preakness and first since Triple Crown champion Justify in 2018.

Journalism’s victory sets up a possible showdown with Sovereignty in the Belmont Stakes (G1) June 7 at Saratoga. Eighteen horses have completed the Preakness-Belmont double, the most recent being Afleet Alex in 2005.

Preakness Stakes Quotes

Winning Trainer Michael McCarthy (Journalism) – “Big day. 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.”

Belmont? “We’re going to go ahead and figure that out.”

Winning Jockey Umberto Rispoli (Journalism) – (NBC Broadcast) “I still can’t realize what this horse did today. 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.”

“It’s just unbelievable. I won one of the legs of the Triple Crown and I’m crying like a kid.”

“When I cross the line, it’s all 20 years of my career that pass I front of me. I had to wait so long to ride a champion like that.”

Q. For Umberto, could you take us through the stretch run, how you saw it? (media conference)

UMBERTO RISPOLI: “Well, going on the backside, passing — he wasn’t traveling like he did travel in the Derby, and at that point you think two things: You have no horse or just too relaxed. I think the second was the option, because as soon as I gave a smack on the shoulder he said, okay, I know what I got to do.”

“At that point, I was trying to go outside and follow River Thames but I had been suggested from some top world class riders, some Hall of Fame riders United States, you win this race saving ground, and I would say thank you to Jerry Bailey for the big tips (Laughter).”

“Going to the turn, I believe Clever Again would go at least at the eight pole. At the quarter pole he gets stopped and obviously Gosger was the first one have the jump on him. We didn’t went that fast. The pace was just slow and Flavien had some trouble to come out of there having American Promise outside of him. He couldn’t get rid of him soon.”

“Look, going the elbow, a little gap was opened and I say, it’s now or never. So it’s horse racing. It’s a nice battle for the sport. Everbody come out safe. I’m sorry about Jose, and I had to give a shout to Flavien right away.”

“From that standpoint from where I was when I looked up, Luis opened up four lanes ahead of me, and the first time I use the crop on him, he switch his lead and, boom, he took off.”

“So more it was going close to the wire, more I was looking. I said at the 16th pole, I said, okay, I’m going to be lead but probably be on time. So I have to give credit to the horse, because I didn’t see many horses, probably was Afleet Alex that he did that, but he almost — Jeremy Rose almost fell off from the horse and that was for me probably the most spectacular Preakness I ever have seen.”

“Coming back after two weeks from a tough trip in the Derby and running against the track, it was an amazing effort. I wish I would have given him a softer race, but this is a part of horse racing, and we’re here celebrating this. (Applause)”

Trainer Brendan Walsh (Gosger, 2^nd) – “I’m disappointed not to win it, but I’m not disappointed in the horse. 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 too, absolutely.”

Jockey Luis Saez (Gosger, 2^nd) – “Overall it was a good trip. We had no excuses. Hopefully, he will learn from this and the next race he will be even better.”

Trainer Mark Casse (Sandman, 3^rd) – “I was upset the first quarter because they were walking, but they picked it up. I have to watch the replay, but he ran good. He made amends for the Derby, but a good horse won.”

Jockey John Velazquez (Sandman, 3^rd) – “We got a good trip, you know, Tried to stay out of trouble as much as I could and then when we got to the quarter pole I thought I was home free but he got to looking around and stopped concentrating. When he was following the horses he was really good, but when I pulled him out to go around and he felt like he was by himself and he didn’t even care, but when a horse moved to the inside of us. He engaged a little bit again to the end.

Trainer Bob Baffert (Goal Oriented, 4^th) – “He didn’t get to run his race. I wanted to see him on the lead, Maybe he would have stopped, I don’t know. He is lightly raced. He ran well, but he is still green. He was not used to being behind horses and he got intimidated. The best horse won. I have seen that horse do it all winter long and he is a remarkable horse. I saw him at Santa Anita and get in trouble and then come running. That is a really good horse.”

Jockey Flavien Prat (Goal Oriented, 4^th) – “Very disappointing result. Expected a big effort today.”

Trainer Jamie Osborne (Heart of Honor, 5^th) – “It wasn’t looking great half-way. He was sluggish out of the gate again. Got a fair amount of sand in his face, looked like it could have been a disaster halfway down the back. But God, he’s tough. He’s resolute. He stayed on great to the line, he passed all but four. Shame the Belmont is not a mile-and-a-half.” (The Belmont Stakes this year at Saratoga is 1 1/4 miles)

Jockey Saffie Osborne (Heart of Honor, 5^th) – “He misbehaved very badly in the stalls, and as a result he jumped slow. You obviously can’t afford to be giving any distance out of the gates in these kinds of races. I was always trying to play catch-up. It was the difference between being able to get a nice position and not being able to. To be honest, I probably would have taken fifth going into the last bend. He was getting a lot of kickback in his face. Once I switched him into daylight, he started running really good up the straight. I think if we could iron out his issues in the gate, we’ve still got a very smart horse on our hands, and he showed that with the work he did later.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher (River Thames, 6^th) – “Stumbled a little bit leaving there. Kind of got stuck a little bit wide on both turns. Seemed like he had a clear route, other than that, and just couldn’t quite finish the way we needed him to.”

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (River Thames, 6^th) – “My trip was good. On the backside and when we were leaving the backside he turned sideways a bit and from there I straightened him out and after that he was trying until the end.”

Trainer Michael Gorham (Pay Billy, 7^th) – “I think he had an OK trip. He kind of got outrun going into the first turn. I think he just got outrun. Maybe we need to step back and run in a little easier company.

Jockey Raul Mena (Pay Billy, 7^th) – “He tried hard and never gave up. He just came up a little flat at the end.”

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas (American Promise, 8^th) – “When he got bumped and roughed up a little bit, he kind of threw his head and quit on us. I didn’t like the way he responded. And Nik (Juarez) didn’t ride him hard the last eighth of a mile. He’s been getting into those squeezes like that, and again today. And when he did, he just chucked it. I just think that attitude-wise, we’ve got to change it a little bit.”

Jockey Nik Juarez (American Promise, 8^th) – “He broke really well and (was) in a good position throughout the race. Into the second turn, he just didn’t have it today to continue on. He is a son of Justify and a very talented horse. I am excited to see how he matures.”

Trainer Steve Asmussen (Clever Again, 9^th) – “It was rough on him.”

Jockey Jose Ortiz (Clever Again, 9^th) – “I can’t complain. I had a pretty good trip. We had it – he was running a clean race. He was on top the first part of it. After that, he lost ground.”