Breeders' Cup Classic: Iron horse Journalism proving his mettle
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In the first 41 years of the Breeders’ Cup, there have been only four 3-year-olds to have run in all three Triple Crown races and win the Classic later that year.
On Nov. 1 at Del Mar, Journalism will attempt to become the fifth, joining, among others, his sire, Curlin, who pulled off the feat in 2007. He joined Sunday Silence (1989) and Unbridled (1990), and they were joined by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in 2015.
Since 2015, the only horse to have run in all three legs of the Triple Crown and compete in the Classic the same year was War of Will, the Preakness winner of 2019 who finished ninth in the Classic.
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These days, competing in all three legs of the Triple Crown is a rarity. Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy, is the only horse to have done it this year. He finished second to Sovereignty in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and in between overcame significant trouble to win the Preakness, a race in which Sovereignty did not compete.
After the Triple Crown, Journalism won the Haskell at Monmouth Park – his third Grade 1 triumph of the year – before finishing second to the 4-year-old Fierceness in the Pacific Classic on Aug. 30 at Del Mar. Overall, in 2025, Journalism is 4 for 7, and the Classic will mark his seventh consecutive Grade 1 appearance.
“Just phenomenal the body of work he’s put together,” said Aron Wellman, managing partner of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, which owns Journalism with Bridlewood Farm, Elayne Stables, and Don Alberto Stable. “It speaks volumes as to Michael McCarthy’s horsemanship and the constitution of Journalism himself to be able to sustain top form throughout such a hearty campaign. It’s one thing to run in all those races, it’s another to show up time and again with the goods, and he’s done that over and over and over again.”
Journalism will come into the Breeders’ Cup off a 3 1/4-length defeat in the Pacific Classic behind Fierceness, the 2-year-old champion of 2023 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up of 2024. Journalism was last of seven in the Pacific Classic before making a wide rally that was only good enough for second.
Wellman gave all the credit to Fierceness, who overcame a troubled start to win, but noted that Journalism was farther back than expected and that the kickback at Del Mar on that day “was extreme,” Wellman said. “There are photos coming past the wire first time and in the clubhouse turn of [jockey] Umberto Rispoli’s goggles getting knocked off his face because the kickback was so heavy and violent.”
The Pacific Classic was run Aug. 30, meaning Journalism will have nine weeks in between races, and he won’t have to ship other than the van ride from Santa Anita to Del Mar. Wellman noted that Journalism had 11 weeks between his victory in the Los Alamitos Futurity last December and his victory in the March 1 San Felipe, a race in which he earned his career-best 108 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He was an extremely dynamic horse off that freshening,” Wellman said. “We’re starting to see those signs manifest as we freshened him and now start to home in on the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”
Each of the 10 horses expected to be pre-entered Monday in the Classic is a Grade 1 winner, all having won such a race this year. That group includes Locked, a horse who Wellman’s Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners is part-owner, but one who also is being considered for the $1 million Dirt Mile. Wellman said there is no decision on which race he would run in, saying there are other entities who have to be consulted.
Wellman knows with or without Locked, this Classic is shaping up to be an all-time edition with 2024 Classic 1-2-3 finishers Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Forever Young, as well as two-time Grade 1 winner Mindframe, Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Antiquarian, and the quartet of 3-year-olds Sovereignty, Journalism, Baeza, and Nevada Beach in the field.
“Whoever it is that finishes first to the wire that day at Del Mar, they’re going to earn it because it is about as serious a race as it gets and certainly as serious a race as we’ve seen as far as I can remember,” Wellman said. “It’ll be quite the spectacle if hopefully they all make it there thriving and in good health. It’s going to be a battle for the ages, no doubt about it.”
◗ Hit Show, the Dubai World Cup winner, is no longer under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup, according to Case Clay, racing adviser for Wathnan Racing. He is being pointed to the Grade 3, $350,000 Fayette Stakes on Oct. 25 at Keeneland.
◗ Forever Young is expected to arrive at Del Mar from Japan on Oct. 22.
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