McCarthy looking for second Oaklawn Handicap win with Journalism

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Journalism has made an impression in his local gallops since arriving from his Southern California base for a Saturday clash with reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty in the Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap – and trainer Michael McCarthy likes the transition last year’s Preakness winner has made from age 3 to 4.

The Oaklawn Handicap will be Journalism’s first start since finishing a good fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

“He’s a bigger, more mature horse and things are coming easier to him,” McCarthy said. “He’s always had a very good head on his shoulders. That certainly hasn’t changed with the break.

“I always say he’s the kind of horse that every trainer should get – wonderful appetite, wonderful disposition around the barn, certainly trains with a bunch of integrity, and just takes very good care of himself. He makes my job easy, makes everybody’s job easy around him.”

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The Southern California-based McCarthy will be looking for his second Oaklawn Handicap win behind City of Light in 2018. From limited local starts, he also saddled Ce Ce to win both the Grade 1 Apple Blossom and Grade 2 Azeri.

Journalism will continue to race for his original owners this season, but in a change the Coolmore connections of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith will be new to the ownership line. Last spring, they acquired the breeding rights to the horse who will eventually retire to their Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners announced last week that Journalism will wear Tabor’s silks in the Oaklawn Handicap.

– additional reporting Nicole Russo

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