Having won the San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park nine times and with three starters in the March 1 race, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's presence was unmistakable in the 1 1/16-mile prep on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Following a scratch, only two horses lined up to face his trio of Barnes, Rodriguez, and Mellencamp—and one of them was a 45-1 longshot in Smooth Cruisein.
Not running scared was trainer Michael McCarthy and his ownership group of Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, and Bob LaPenta. They had faith in their colt, Journalism, who in a prior matchup had beaten three Baffert trainees in the Dec. 14 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).
Journalism delivered. Under Umberto Rispoli, he entertained favored Barnes early, easing back into a stalking position down the backstretch, and then bore down on the favorite beginning on the second turn and through the stretch to decisively win the $300,000 contest. He sped 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.24, capped by a final sixteenth of a mile in :06.11, resulting in a 1 3/4-length advantage at the finish. He paid $8.20 to win as the second choice behind Barnes.
Rispoli said when he put Journalism in the clear and asked him to run, "He put in beast mode."
Juan Hernandez on Barnes attempted to break the spirits of those chasing him by opening up on the second turn, a tactic that worked against all but Journalism. Barnes held second, 9 1/2 lengths ahead of Rodriguez in third. Mellencamp and Smooth Cruisein completed the order of finish.
Journalism picked up 37.5 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points to boost his total to 47.5. Churchill Downs uses qualifying points as a preference system when the race oversubscribes beyond its 20-horse maximum field size. During each of the the past two years, 40 qualifying points have been necessary to secure a spot in the Derby field.
With just five horses starting in the San Felipe, only 75% of the planned qualifying points for the race were awarded. Those running second through fifth earned points on an 18.75-11.25-7.5-3.75 scale.
The previously unbeaten San Vicente Stakes (G2) winner Barnes, the Kentucky Derby Future Wager favorite among individual wagering interests, tired late in his first route. He set a steady pace of :23.71, :47.31, and 1:11.10.
If Journalism starts in the May 3 Kentucky Derby in another couple of months, he will be the second Derby starter for McCarthy, who won the 2021 Preakness Stakes (G1) with Rombauer . Endlessly ran ninth in the Derby for McCarthy last year.
"It is always great to have a horse that can take you places, and he looks like he is taking himself and everybody else with him," McCarthy said.
Journalism, bred by Don Alberto, is a son of Curlin out of the graded stakes-winning Uncle Mo mare Mopotism. Curlin, one of the nation's top stallions, stands for $225,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Paris, Ky.
Journalism sold for $825,000 to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners in 2023 at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale from the Denali Stud consignment.
Aron Wellman, president and founder of Eclipse Thoroughbreds, remarked, "I said before the race, this was a battle. We've got our eye on the war, which is the first Saturday in May. Hopefully we're not taking anything for granted, but to see him continue to be on this upward trajectory is really special to watch."
