Confirmed: Journalism will race Saturday in Preakness 2025
They could not wait until Monday.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners took to social media Sunday to say, yes, Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism will race Saturday in Preakness 2025.
“Journalism has been grand since the Kentucky Derby, and (trainer Michael McCarthy) has green-lighted him to head to Pimlico for the 150th Preakness Stakes,” Eclipse said in a post on X. “We look forward to showcasing Journalism’s talents in Baltimore in such a coveted American classic with Umberto Rispoli set to ride.”
Preakness 2025: Stable notes on 7 other candidates.
Aron Wellman, who runs Eclipse, dropped the strongest hint beforehand Sunday morning that the RSVP to the Maryland Jockey Club would be a yes.
“We’re going to go over him with a fine-tooth comb this afternoon,” Wellman told the Thoroughbred Los Angeles radio show. “Hopefully, once that process is completed, we’ll be in position to make an announcement. But he’s given us absolutely no reason at this point not to set our sights on Pimlico next Saturday. We just want to really be as smart about this decision as possible.”
Eclipse owns Journalism with Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta and the Coolmore group of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.
Journalism brings a résumé that includes victories in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), San Felipe (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1). He is only the third graded-stakes winner to commit to this year’s Preakness. Seventh-place Kentucky Derby finisher Sandman, who won the Arkansas Derby (G1), and Gosger, first in the Lexington (G3), are the others. Since graded stakes came into being in 1973, there never have been fewer than three such winners to be entered in a Preakness.
“I’ve kind of taken a peek at the probables,” McCarthy said. “It’s a competitive spot. It looks like there’s a little bit of pace in there. You’d expect that. It’s a Triple Crown race. You would expect it to be competitive.”
American Promise, Clever Again, Goal Oriented, Heart of Honor, Pay Billy and River Thames also are expected to be in Monday’s draw around 6:45 p.m. EDT.
McCarthy said Sunday that Journalism would be vanned from Kentucky to Maryland on Tuesday. Preakness horses have to be at Pimlico no later than Wednesday.