In the final Preakness Stakes at the historic Pimlico Race Course before it undergoes demolition and redevelopment, Journalism delivered a headline-worthy performance. Battling adversity down the stretch, the determined colt surged past rivals in dramatic fashion to win the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, stamping himself as a serious contender for 3-year-old Horse of the Year honors.
The $2 million Grade 1 race, contested over 1 3/16 miles, was anything but straightforward for the favorite. As the field turned for home, Journalism was bumped hard by Bob Baffert-trained Goal Oriented near the quarter pole. The incident evoked memories of his runner-up finish in the Kentucky Derby two weeks earlier behind Sovereignty, who sat out the Preakness in favor of rest ahead of the Belmont Stakes on June 7.
But this time, the result was different. Jockey Umberto Rispoli, making history as the first Italian rider to win a U.S. Triple Crown race, kept his composure aboard Journalism. He found daylight in tight quarters, muscled through the fray, and exploded past Gosger to hit the wire a half-length in front. Sandman rallied for third, while Goal Oriented, after the controversial contact, faded to fourth.
“He handled it like a champion,” Rispoli said. “He was bumped, he was squeezed, but he never lost his stride. When the hole opened, he gave me everything.”
The final time was 1:55.37 on a track that had finally dried out after a week of torrential rain. Unlike the muddy surface at Churchill Downs, which worked against him in the Derby, the fast Pimlico dirt played right into Journalism’s strengths.
The win marked trainer Michael McCarthy’s second victory in a Triple Crown race, following his 2021 Preakness shocker with Rombauer. This one, however, carried more emotional weight.
McCarthy and his family remain displaced due to the recent wildfires in Southern California. Fighting back tears, he dedicated the victory to his hometown of Altadena.
“We’ll get back there,” McCarthy said. “Everybody will get back there. We’ll rebuild. This is for Altadena.”
With Sovereignty skipping the Preakness, it marked the fifth time in the past seven years the race was run without a Triple Crown bid on the line. Still, Journalism added plenty of drama and excitement to what became a defining moment in the 3-year-old division.
He returned $4.00 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.40 to show, rewarding his backers and further validating his Derby performance. The win also made him the first horse since War of Will in 2019 to win the Preakness after running in the Kentucky Derby.
Just three Derby runners returned for the Preakness: Journalism, Sandman (trained by Mark Casse), and American Promise (trained by 89-year-old legend D. Wayne Lukas). Lukas, who has saddled more Preakness starters than any other trainer in history, had jokingly referred to McCarthy earlier in the week as “the new guy.” That “new guy” is now two-for-two in Triple Crown races.
Saturday also marked the final Preakness at Pimlico before it is rebuilt. Next year’s edition is expected to be held at Laurel Park, with a planned return to a revitalized Pimlico in 2027.
If this was Pimlico’s swan song, Journalism made sure it ended with a bang — a gritty, gutsy, and unforgettable run that turned adversity into triumph.
