Journalism

Journalism won his maiden race in his second lifetime start as a 2-year-old on Nov. 17, 2024, at Del Mar. He then made his third career start in the Grade 2 $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 24 where he squared off against some of the top juveniles in southern California such as Getaway Car and Gaming. Sent off as the 2.80-1 second choice on the tote board in the field of five in the Los Al Futurity, Journalism stalked the pace close-up in mid-pack and then took over the lead at the top of the stretch and drew clear to a 3 1/2-length win with Umberto Rispoli aboard. The Los Alamitos Futurity was a points race on the road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, and with his win, Journalism earned 10 qualifying points.

Journalism had 2 1/2 months off following his win in the Los Alamitos Futurity, and he came back to make his 3-year-old debut on March 1, 2025, in the Grade 2 $300,000 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita. Sent off as the 3.10-1 second choice in the five-horse field, Journalism chased 2-5 favorite Barnes around the track and unleashed a strong closing surge in deep stretch to catch Barnes with room to spare to win by a 1 3/4-length margin at the finish. The San Felipe was another race on the road to the Kentucky Derby, and with his win, Journalism increased his total to 47.50 qualifying points.

Journalism solidified his status as a favorite for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby with a win in his final prep race in the Grade 1 $500,000 Santa Anita Derby going 1 1/8 miles on April 5. Sent off as the even-money favorite in a five-horse field that included the likes of Citizen Bull and Barnes as well as Westwood and Baeza, Journalism overcame a less-than-perfect trip and came from a stalking position in last in a tightly-bunched field to get up in the stretch and get the victory by three-quarters of a length in a time of 1:49.56 under jockey Umberto Rispoli.

Following his good effort in defeat as the beaten favorite in the Kentucky Derby, Journalism came right back two weeks later in the second jewel of the Triple Crown in the Preakness Stakes May 17 at Pimlico. Sent off as the post time favorite once again in the Preakness at even money, this time Journalism would not be denied in a spine-tingling winning effort that will go down in Preakness lore for years to come. After stalking the pace in mid-pack much of the race, Journalism made a rail move into contention into the stretch behind a wall of horses and then bulled through a tight spot under jockey Umberto Rispoli. Horse and rider nearly went down when smashed by Goal Oriented, but despite losing significant ground and momentum in the incident was somehow able to re-rally with a surge in deep stretch to catch leading Gosger and score the victory by a half a length. 

Journalism's next stop was the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 7, when he became the only horse in the 2025 Triple Crown series to compete in all three races. The 2025 Belmont Stakes was a showdown between Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness Stakes winner Journalism, and the race did not disappoint. Journalism stalked the pace up close throughout before taking the lead turning for home atop the eight-horse field, but he could not hold off the late charge of Sovereignty and settled for second by three lengths in a near carbon copy repeat of the Kentucky Derby result.

Journalism shipped back to his southern California base following the Triple Crown series but was right back on a plane again shortly thereafter in order to make his next start in the Grade 1 $1 million NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes going 1 1/8 miles at Monmouth Park in New Jersey on July 19. Sent off as the heavy 2-5 favorite atop an eight-horse field under regular rider Umberto Rispoli in the Haskell, Journalism raced near the rear of the field through the first part of the race but began to pick up the pace into the far turn and took aim at the leaders in the stretch. Journalism sustained his rally and got the lead in deep stretch to get up to win by half a length. The Haskell Stakes was a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "win and you're in" prep race for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, and with his victory, Journalism earned an expense-paid berth into the Classic which will be held on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

With a spot already secured and paid for in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Journalism bypassed making another trip east for a rematch against Sovereignty in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga and instead stayed home close to his California base and ran next in the Grade 1 $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes against older horses on Aug. 30. Journalism was sent off as the 2-5 favorite atop a seven-horse field in the Pacific Classic, but he came up 3 1/4 lengths short in second behind his main competition in the race, the 8-5 second choice Fierceness. 

Journalism closed out an excellent and memorable 3-year-old season with a fourth-place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Journalism returned to the track after 5 1/2 months on the sidelines and made his 4-year-old debut in the Grade 2 $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap going 1 1/8 miles on April 18, 2026. The 2026 Oaklawn Handicap was a highly publicized race that not only featured Journalism but also Sovereignty in his 4-year-old debut and the 7-year-old former Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio. Journalism pressed Sovereignty up on the lead much of the way in the Oaklawn Handicap but ultimately was fended off a challenge by Sovereignty and was passed in the stretch by winner White Abarrio's to settle for third, beaten 3 1/4 lengths.

Journalism is trained by Michael McCarthy. He was bred in Kentucky by the sire Curlin out of the mare Mopotism by Uncle Mo.