Journalism mounts incredible comeback to win 150th Preakness Stakes
By: Nathan Ackerman NBC Sports
Seemingly down and out for much of the 150th Preakness, pre-race favorite Journalism pulled off a furious, shocking comeback down the stretch to win at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday.
Journalism started well immediately out of the gate, but it was Clever Again (the No. 2 favorite before the race) and longshot Gosger setting the pace — with Journalism hanging out in sixth for over half the track.
But Journalism’s story had yet to be written.
Ridden by jockey Umberto Rispoli, the Kentucky Derby runner-up turned on the jets late, overtook Gosger — who had seemed to pull away — and charged in front in the closing moments.
“I still can’t realize what this horse did today,” Rispoli said after securing the first Triple Crown race win of his career — in his Preakness debut. “It’s all about him. It’s a pleasure, a privilege to ride a horse like him … I’m crying like a kid.”
Trainer Michael McCarthy won his second Triple Crown race, the first coming in 2021 — also in the Preakness.
“I kinda resigned myself to the fact that it was another fantastic effort, maybe came up a little bit short. But just goes to show the testament that this horse has,” said a choked-up McCarthy after the win. “Couldn’t be prouder of him.”
Journalism stayed on the rail for the majority of the irregular 1 and 3/16th mile race, despite chances for Rispoli to make a move outside. The patient duo threaded a narrow needle between Goal Oriented and Clever Again, then heavily bumped with the former while making the final turn.
Journalism’s jostling was the subject of an inquiry after the race, ultimately yielding no change.
For a moment, it appeared his best chance had come and gone. But Journalism emerged amid the traffic, held off a charging Sandman and chased Gosger down late in stunning fashion.
Improbable as the victory once was, Journalism entered the race with even odds to win. A Journalism-Gosger exacta returned $33.80 for a $2 bet, while a trifecta with Journalism-Gosger-Sandman turned $1 into $73.50.
Goal Oriented finished fourth. A correct superfecta netted $303.40 from $1.
Journalism’s story — and that of McCarthy — is one of remarkable resilience. McCarthy and his family have been living with his in-laws since the Altadena fire in Southern California forced them to relocate; he briefly had to displace Journalism (and over a dozen other horses) from Santa Anita Park due to the threat as wildfires raged across the region.
“This,” McCarthy said, “is for Altadena.”
Journalism is part-owned by Aron Wellman, who heads Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, as well as Leslie and John Malone of Bridlewood Farm, Liliana Solari and Carlos Heller of Don Alberto, and prominent Iona University benefactor Robert LaPenta.
“It was pretty nasty there for a second. We thought we were gonna end up with another second,” Wellman said during the trophy presentation. “But the horse is a champion. Our jockey, Umberto Rispoli, is a champion. Our trainer, Michael McCarthy, is a champion.
“[Journalism is] extremely special. He is equally as mentally brilliant as he is physically, which is so rare to find in this game … I think everybody saw what a champion he is today.”
Seven of the last nine Derby favorites who lost the Run for the Roses, then participated in the Preakness, had lost. Favorites had lost eight of the past nine — and all of the past six — Preaknesses, until Journalism bucked that trend.
McCarthy took only a few belongings with him while evacuating his Southern California home back in early January. Among them was his trophy from that first Preakness win.
He can display some new hardware alongside it.
The trophy presentation can be viewed below