Connections pondering Journalism's route to Breeders' Cup Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – Journalism, the winner of Saturday’s Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar, is expected to have two or three more starts before he is retired to stud in Kentucky.

Journalism will be considered for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar on Aug. 22, the track’s leading annual race. The primary goal is to start Journalism in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Last year, Journalism was second to Fierceness in the Pacific Classic and fourth in the BC Classic at Del Mar in his final start of the year.

“I’d like to take another swing at it,” co-owner Aron Wellman said on Sunday in regard to the Pacific Classic. “We’re not going to rush to make a commitment.

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“We’ll see how the horse is and let him determine when and where to run.

“We have to determine whether he has one race prior to the Breeders’ Cup or two.”

Aside from the Pacific Classic and BC Classic, one other option for Journalism in California is the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 26. The winners of the Pacific Classic and Goodwood Stakes receive fees-paid berths to the BC Classic.

Wellman said that Journalism will be retired to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky in time for the 2027 breeding season.

The Coolmore syndicate reached an agreement to stand Journalism in late March of 2025.

At the time, Journalism had won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita and was days away from a win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism was second in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and won the Preakness Stakes and Haskell later in 2025.

The San Diego Handicap was Journalism’s first win since the Haskell, ending a four-race losing streak. On Saturday, Journalism stumbled at the start and closed from last of five to win by three-quarters of a length.

“He’s been tough on the heart,” Wellman said.

Journalism was McCarthy’s fourth win in the first two days of the Del Mar summer meeting. He won three races on Friday’s opening day – allowance races with Detain and Victorious Dream, and a $150,000 claiming race for 2-year-old maidens with Lost Angeles.

Detain, third in the Group 1 French Derby in 2025, won his second start in the United States on Friday at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Detain closed from eighth of 11 to win by 1 1/4 lengths as the 13-10 favorite.

“I thought he was very good,” McCarthy said on Sunday. “He’s a horse we’ve thought a lot of since he came over here. He got the trip we were looking for.”

There are two Grade 2 stakes options on turf with $300,000 purses later this summer at Del Mar for Detain – the Del Mar Mile on Aug. 22 and the Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on Aug. 29.

“We’ve got to figure out if he’ll be as effective going a flat mile or in the Del Mar Handicap,” McCarthy said.

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