Journalism puts in first official work of year with Met Mile as potential goal

ARCADIA, Calif. – The comeback of the brilliant 4-year-old colt Journalism is well underway.

On Sunday at Santa Anita, Journalism worked three furlongs in 36.80 seconds, his first official workout of the year.

“He’s getting started, going through the motions,” trainer Michael McCarthy said.

Journalism returned to McCarthy’s stable in mid-January after a brief rest. The colt is expected to be ready to race this spring, with the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Saratoga on June 6 mentioned as a potential goal.

Journalism was one of the top 3-year-olds of 2025, winning such Grade 1 races as the Santa Anita Derby, Preakness, and Haskell. He finished second in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

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Journalism has not raced since a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Journalism was beaten 3 3/4 lengths by Forever Young, who won the $20 million Saudi Cup for the second consecutive year on Feb. 14.

Journalism, by Curlin, has won 6 of 11 starts and earned $4,348,880 for a partnership that includes Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable and the Coolmore syndicate.

Saturday and Sunday were busy mornings for workouts at Santa Anita following inclement weather that disrupted main track training in the preceding days.

On Sunday, So Happy, the undefeated winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Jan. 10, worked six furlongs in 1:11.60 under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. Trainer Mark Glatt timed So Happy in 1:12 and said the colt “galloped out really well.”

“He’s an average work horse, but he turns it on in the afternoon,” Glatt said.

So Happy is on schedule for the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 7. The race is run at 1 1/16 miles and will be the first start for So Happy around two turns. Glatt acknowledged that So Happy will have something to prove by starting at a longer distance in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes.

“When I see it, I’ll believe it,” he said. “It’s the same with any horse when you stretch them out.

“Mike seems to think he will. He’s got the stride.”

The San Felipe Stakes is a key prep race for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles on April 4.

Secured Freedom, third by four lengths in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 7, worked a half-mile 48 seconds on Saturday for a scheduled start in the San Felipe.

Intrepido, winner of the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita in October, worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds on Saturday. Trainer Jeff Mullins said on Sunday that he has not finalized race plans for Intrepido.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s stable will have a presence in the San Felipe, possibly with Brant, who was third in the BC Juvenile at Del Mar on Oct. 31. Brant worked six furlongs in 1:11.80 on Saturday.

The Baffert-trained Litmus Test, winner of the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity in December, is entered in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 1. Litmus Test worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds on Saturday.

Trainer Aggie Ordonez worked two stakes winners on Sunday – the 4-year-old filly Om N Joy and 5-year-old horse Vodka Vodka.

Om N Joy worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds for the Grade 1 Beholder Mile for fillies and mares on March 7. Vodka Vodka worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on March 7.

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