Journalism, the 3-5 favorite, won the Preakness Stakes on Saturday in a thrilling comeback, overcoming a strong field of nine competitors to claim the middle leg of the Triple Crown.
Key Highlights
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Trainer Victory: This win marked trainer Michael McCarthy’s second Preakness victory. McCarthy expressed his excitement, stating, "It’s an incredible feeling. We’re thrilled with this win."
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Jockey Achievement: Umberto Rispoli rode Journalism to its first Triple Crown victory, becoming the first jockey from Italy to achieve this feat. His crucial ride allowed Journalism to come from behind down the stretch to secure the win.
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Race Results:
- 1st Place: Journalism
- 2nd Place: Gosger (finished half-length behind)
- 3rd Place: Sandman
- 4th Place: Goal Oriented
Race Conditions
The conditions at Pimlico Race Course were favorable for Journalism on a warm day, with a dry track following recent torrential rain. This environment played to its advantage, contrasting with the slop conditions faced at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby.
- Race Distance: Journalism completed 1 3/16 miles in 1:55:37 under Rispoli’s skilled guidance.
Trainer and Jockey Background
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McCarthy’s Success: In addition to his second Preakness title, McCarthy has now won five stakes races with Journalism at Maryland tracks since he began training the horse last year, after purchasing him privately from Bob Baffert’s stable.
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Rispoli’s Comeback: Rispoli has ridden three winners in stakes races since returning from injury earlier this month, including two graded stakes wins aboard Sandman and Go Forth Remy.
Financials
With Saturday’s victory, Journalism earned $750,000, plus an additional $1,500,000 in purse money, which will be split between owner Siena Farm LLC (50%) and Michael McCarthy (50%).
Historical Context
With this win, Journalism is now one step closer to becoming only the seventh horse in history to win all three legs of the American Triple Crown series, which includes the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Notable horses that have achieved this status include Secretariat and Affirmed.
Notable Jockeys
Rispoli became the sixth foreign-born rider trained outside the United States or Canada to ride a winner in the Preakness Stakes, joining the ranks of champions like Jose Santos, Ramon Dominguez, and Javier Castellano.
Conclusion
McCarthy is also on the verge of achieving a rare feat among trainers, having trained multiple champions throughout his career, including several Grade I winners.
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