Racing triumph in the 150th Preakness Stakes: Journalism crowned the victor
Straight-from-the-Stable Victory: Journalism Takes Home the 150th Preakness Stakes
Brace yourself, racing fans! Journalism, the heavy favorite, claimed the throne at the historic 150th Preakness Stakes at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course this weekend.
This three-year-old powerhouse entered the race with a confidence boosting 8-5 odds and didn't disappoint. With a thrilling come-from-behind performance, Journalism dashed past a field of eight other hopefuls in the final stretch to taste triumph.
Defending champion Gosger breathed down Journalism's neck, trailing by just a half-length in the closing moments. Sandman managed third place, with Goal Oriented just a nose behind in fourth. The final time: a breathtaking 1 minute and 55.37 seconds.
Trainer Michael McCarthy, thrilled with his second Preakness win, now shares the podium with a new champion – Umberto Rispoli. If you haven't heard of Rispoli, here's something to remember: he's the first jockey from Italy to ever conquer a Triple Crown race.
Notably absent from the race was the reigning Derby champ, Sovereignty. But fear not – this colt is still preparing for a highly-anticipated showdown with Journalism at the Belmont Stakes on June 7, right here in New York.
To add more spice to the mix, you may recall that the Preakness, without a Triple Crown bid at stake over the past seven years, has become somewhat of a tradition breaker. But Journalism's dazzling victory is ensuring that he's a strong contender for 3-year-old horse of the year, a title that could be his with a victory at the American classic race.
The old Pimlico Race Course will play host to its final Preakness before being torn down and rebuilt, making Journalism's win even more poignant. The new venue, nearby Laurel Park, will take over the race next year, with a planned return to Pimlico in 2027.
Journalism's victory was all the sweeter on a warm day that saw the rainfall subside, leaving the track in top condition for the racehorse. Unlike the sloppy weather at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby, conditions at Pimlico suited Journalism just fine.
Just one horse has dared to tread the Preakness course following the Kentucky Derby since War of Will in 2019. And now, Journalism has joined that exclusive club as the first horse to clinch the Preakness since then. Only two others from the 19 in the Derby made it to the Preakness starting line: Sandman (trained by Michael McCarthy) and American Promise (under the tutelage of Hall of Famer, D. Wayne Lukas).
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- Michael McCarthy
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- Journalism's triumphant victory at the Preakness Stakes has made headlines in the racing news, marking the horse as a strong contender for the title of three-year-old horse of the year.
- The win by Journalism, under jockey Umberto Rispoli, and trained by Michael McCarthy, has added another thrilling chapter to the chronicles of thoroughbred racing, particularly at the historic Pimlico Race Course.
