Journalism overcame a troubled trip to run down Baeza in the final strides to win the $500,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby April 5 at Santa Anita Park.

Though trainer Michael McCarthy might have ideally wished that Journalism had an easier trip, the colt faced several challenges and overcame each one in a three-quarters of a length win. The lessons he learned should serve him well as he tries for his next goal in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Click to subscribe!

"He was a little aggressive going into the first turn," McCarthy said. "They kind of came off the fence going in through the first turn, and he got a little aggressive again. He was able to kind of switch it off up the backside and found himself in a nice rhythm."

Citizen Bull, last year's champion 2-year-old male and one of two Bob Baffert trainees in the race, battled with Westwood, a maiden, on the front end early in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby. Barnes, also from the Baffert barn, was going head and head with Baeza, while Journalism, the even-money favorite ridden by Umberto Rispoli, raced fifth in the very compact field.

"At the half-mile pole, everyone kind of congregated together," McCarthy said. "Umberto was still sort of there in the pocket. Obviously, everyone knew he was the horse to beat, so I think they were kind of waiting as long as they could to make their move. They spread themselves apart, and Umberto was able to find himself a seam and get him outside."

From there, Journalism put on a display that was gorgeous to watch. He moved up in the second turn, laser-focused on Baeza and Citizen Bull ahead of him. After Baeza got the better of Citizen Bull, Journalism drew alongside Baeza in the final furlong. Baeza gamely stuck with Journalism as long as he could, but Journalism began to pull away. He stopped the timer in 1:49.56.

Baeza proved much the best of the rest, finishing 8 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Westwood. A half-length separated Westwood and Citizen Bull, with Barnes another 10 lengths back in last.

"It's rare for a horse to get held up at the three-eighths pole and to get back in the race in that way," Rispoli said. "It's always difficult, especially for such a big horse, but he has such an amazing style and is just an amazing horse."

Journalism. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Aron Wellman, president and founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, a co-owner of Journalism noted that stamina "is one of Journalism's strong suits, among many." Wellman continued, "I'm glad that he got the education he did today. He's got the appropriate seasoning going into what really has been the ultimate goal all along."

Citizen Bull tired, Baffert reported.

"Turning for home, he was blowing pretty good," Baffert said. "He looked a little heavy. He needed the race pretty bad."

Citizen Bull, who finished his 2-year-old season with a victory in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, won the Feb. 1 Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes in his first start as a 3-year-old.

"I don't think it's the distance, he just got tired," Baffert said. "We're not raising the white flag yet."

Because the Santa Anita Derby had only five horses, the Kentucky Derby qualifying points offered in the race were reduced to 75% of their original value: 75 to Journalism, 37.5 to Baeza, 18.75 to Westwood, 11.25 to Citizen Bull, and 7.5 to Barnes.

Journalism had 47.5 points going into the race and now has 122.5 points, so getting a berth in the Kentucky Derby is not a problem. He likely will go into the race as the favorite, having now won four races in a row dating back to his maiden victory last November. Journalism won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity to finish his 2-year-old season and opened his 3-year-old campaign with a win in the Grade 2 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes.