Kentucky Derby 2025: Journalism gets back to work with maintenance move

ARCADIA, Calif. – The streaking 3-year-old Journalism, early favorite for the Kentucky Derby after his impressive victory in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5, posted his first workout since then early Saturday at Santa Anita.

The half-mile work seemed like a maintenance drill, and those who liked Journalism before his 47-second half-mile work will still like him after. He does things easily.

Working shortly after the 6:30 a.m. track renovation, Journalism and jockey Umberto Rispoli broke off at the half-mile pole while pressured from the outside by stablemate Feel the Magic. Journalism took dirt from workers in front of him, looked comfortable throughout the drill, and galloped out an additional furlong after the wire in 11.80 seconds on trainer Michael McCarthy’s watch.

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“He does it pretty much on his own, you saw it there,” McCarthy said. “He’s had a very good week, real relaxed around here lately.” McCarthy said he worked Journalism in company “to get his competitive juices flowing a little bit. I think we did that.

“He took a little pressure outside, and I think he probably felt some horses behind him too,” McCarthy said. “He had it from all sides.”

Despite traffic, Journalism was not at all aggressive breaking off. He was relaxed through the workout while inside stablemate Feel the Magic, a last-out maiden winner.

Rispoli was only mildly spattered with kickback after the work, the result of workers who broke off before him. Rispoli let those workers go before Journalism and Feel the Magic commenced the team drill. Journalism appeared relaxed throughout the workout.

“He did it really well,” Rispoli said. “Nothing has changed in his attitude. He’s taking his work really well. He was really happy to go to the pole this morning. He got some more kickback this morning. Nothing is a problem. Kickback is okay.”

Journalism is owned by a partnership that includes Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Aron Wellman, president and founder of Eclipse, watched the Saturday workout at Santa Anita. “It was important for him to get a good blow this morning, open up his lungs. He was all about it,” Wellman said afterward. “Hopefully he continues on an upward trajectory.”

Journalism’s name is based partly on his dam Mopotism, and partly on Wellman’s background. “Just playing off Mopotism, with an ‘ism’ at the end of the word, and came up with Journalism.

Wellman was sports editor at Beverly Hills High school newspaper, prior to his career as an attorney. “My journalism career was short-lived,” Wellman said, laughing. “I’ve been accused of being a disgruntled journalist a time or two.”

Journalism is scheduled to ship Tuesday to Churchill Downs, where he will have his final workout before the Kentucky Derby.

Eclipse also owns Built, the Midwest-based graded stakes-placed colt who qualifies for the Kentucky Derby on points. His status for the Derby is pending; he could run in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile. Wellman said a decision on Built’s next start is pending.

“We’re going to ride out the week, and see where it takes us,” Wellman said, referring to Built.

Journalism, sired by Curlin and produced by a Grade 2 winner, has won four straight races including the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity and Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita prior to the Santa Anita Derby. He has won four races and $638,880 from five starts.

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