Journalism works for Breeders' Cup Classic
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Three works completed, three to go for the star 3-year-old Journalism in advance of a scheduled start in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
On Friday at Santa Anita, Journalism worked five furlongs in 1:00.80, his first at that distance since a second-place finish by 3 1/4 lengths to Fierceness in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 30. Journalism had half-mile workouts at Santa Anita on Sept. 20 and Sept. 26.
On Friday, Journalism worked with the Uruguayan import Touch of Destiny.
“He had just a little bit of company to keep him engaged,” said Aron Wellman, the managing partner of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, which is part of the group that owns Journalism.
Touch of Destiny, unbeaten in six starts in Uruguay, is being pointed to the BC Dirt Mile. Touch of Destiny was timed in 1:01.
Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy, has won 6 of 10 starts and earned $3,998,880, ranking as the second-best 3-year-old in the nation behind Sovereignty.
Journalism has won three Grade 1 races this year – the Santa Anita Derby, Preakness Stakes and Haskell Invitational. He was second to Sovereignty in two other Grade 1 races, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. The Pacific Classic, run at the same 1 1/4-mile distance as the BC Classic, was Journalism’s first start against older horses.
Fierceness is among the older-horse contenders for the BC Classic, along with Antiquarian, Forever Young, Mindframe, and Sierra Leone. Last November at Del Mar, Sierra Leone, Fierceness and Forever Young were the first three finishers in the BC Classic.
This year’s field is scheduled to also include the 3-year-old Baeza, who won the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept. 20.
“It’s certainly shaping up to be a Breeders’ Cup of the ages,” Wellman said. “It gives us chills to think about.”
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