Mopotism, dam of Journalism, dies at 11

Grade 2 winner Mopotism, the dam of this year’s Preakness Stakes winner Journalism, has died following colic complications at Don Alberto Farm in Lexington, Ky. The Uncle Mo mare was 11.

Mopotism was a fine racehorse in her own right before beginning her broodmare career. Trained by Doug O'Neill for Reddam Racing, she scored her biggest win in the Grade 2 La Canada in 2018 at Santa Anita. She was on the board in 10 other graded stakes. Those included multiple Grade 1 placings against solid company. She was third in the Starlet at 2 behind Abel Tasman, who would go on to be a champion; third in the La Brea behind another champion, Unique Bella, and Grade 1 winner Paradise Woods; third in the Santa Margarita; and third in the Ogden Phipps behind champion Midnight Bisou.

Mopotism was purchased for $1,050,000 by Don Alberto, which has Liliana Solari and her son Carlos Heller as principals, as a broodmare prospect at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale. After she was barren in her first season when bred to Tapit, she produced her first foal, Journalism, by Curlin, in February 2022.

Journalism was an $825,000 purchase by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale. Racing for a partnership that includes Eclipse, Bridlewood Farm, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five, Don Alberto (which came back for a piece), and the Coolmore group, which has secured his stud rights, Journalism is a multiple Grade 1 winner who has not missed the board in eight career starts. His dramatic Preakness victory was sandwiched between runner-up efforts in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and he is set to make his first post-Triple Crown start in this weekend’s Grade 1 Haskell.

Mopotism’s second foal is Nitro Tap, a Tapit colt who brought $1.5 million from Flying Dutchmen at last year’s Saratoga sale. The 2-year-old has yet to race.

Mopotism’s final two foals are fillies, an Into Mischief yearling and a Flightline foal born earlier this year, giving Don Alberto a chance to carry on her genetic line. The Into Mischief filly is entered in this year’s Saratoga sale, set for Aug. 4-5, but her breeder may choose to withdraw her under the circumstances. Her status in the catalog had not changed as of Wednesday morning.

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