Can Journalism win the 2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 1 at Del Mar? Of course. Will he reign supreme against older males this fall? I think he has his work cut out for him.

America’s Best Racing is exploring leading contenders for the 14 races that comprise the Breeders’ Cup World Championships as things really begin to come into focus in summer and fall. This week we take a closer look at Journalism after his rallying half-length victory in the $1 million NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes July 19 at Monmouth Park, which earned him an expenses-paid berth in the $7 million Longines Classic.

Accomplishments: Horse racing fans – even casual Kentucky Derby fans – know Journalism. This year’s Santa Anita Derby winner finished second as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, barreled through a narrow window to win a thrilling edition of the Preakness Stakes, and then ran second again in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets.

Along with Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty, Journalism is one of the two most recognizable 3-year-olds from the 2025 Triple Crown trail.

The bay colt by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin made his first start since the Triple Crown in the Haskell and got right back to business. He closed from fifth of eight with three-eighths of a mile to race and reeled in Preakness (and Haskell) runner-up Gosger and Goal Oriented in the final furlong. Always a strong finisher, Journalism completed his final quarter-mile in :24.71 and his final eighth of a mile in :12.27 to improve to four wins and two seconds in six starts this year.

“Up the backside he started picking off horses and he came with that long, measured run. It was long and it was steady,” winning trainer Michael McCarthy said. “I looked at the wire and I looked at Journalism and I looked at the leaders [Gosger and Goal Oriented], and I’m glad we had a couple of extra jumps there to get the job done.”

Journalism is a talented, consistent racehorse who has never been worse than third in nine races with wins at five different tracks. “He’s very a very special horse,” McCarthy said.

Speed Figures: Journalism’s Equibase Speed Figures in six starts this year have ranged from a 101 to a 110. He earned the 110 in his season debut in the DK Horse San Felipe Stakes and recorded a 109 figure in both the Preakness and Haskell. His Beyer Speed Figures for his 2025 starts range from a 98 to a 108, again with his best figure in the San Felipe Stakes. Journalism earned a 101 for the Haskell, his fifth triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure in six races. He’s fast.

Looking Ahead: I predicted in April that Journalism would sweep the Triple Crown, so I’ve long been a believer in him as a racehorse. However, I must evaluate his Breeders’ Cup Classic chances with clarity. So far, Sovereignty has beaten him in both meetings. While you could make a reasonable excuse for Journalism in the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty simply looked like the superior 3-year-old in the Belmont Stakes when winning by three lengths.

Of course, the Breeders’ Cup Classic also would task Journalism with stepping up to face older males – and perhaps females, we’re looking at you 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna – going 1 ¼ miles. In some years, that might not be a major hurdle. That is not the case this year with Stephen Foster Stakes winner Mindframe plus the top three finishers from last years’ Breeders’ Cup Classic – Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Forever Young – among the probable challengers.

Chances are, Journalism will face a talented and battle-tested group of opponents should he progress on to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He certainly can win the race, but I think he will need to continue to improve to do so Nov. 1 at Del Mar.