Ky. Derby prep: Journalism stalks to upset in Los Al Futurity
Journalism, who was supplemented for $7,500 into his first stakes, raced from a stalking third on the backstretch, took the lead at the three-sixteenths pole and ran on to a 3 1/2-length victory Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity.
The victory against only four rival 3-year-olds was worth 10 points toward qualifying for Kentucky Derby 2025.
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“We gave him every opportunity not to run today, but he kept answering everything we threw out at him,” winning trainer Michael McCarthy said of the Curlin colt who had two breezes since his last race 27 days before. “He had two wonderful works, and he was very cool and composed in the paddock. He’s picking things up fast.”
A third-time starter who broke his maiden Nov. 17 at Del Mar in a two-turn mile, Journalism (5-2) broke alertly from the outermost post Saturday before jockey Umberto Rispoli took him back the first time past the finish line.
Getaway Car (7-2), one of the three starters trained by Bob Baffert, led his Grade 1-winning stablemate and post-time favorite Gaming (1-2) through early fractions of 23.93, 47.75 and 1:11.87 in the two-turn, 1 1/16-mile race.
Turning wide into the homestretch, Journalism made up ground as the Baffert pair flattened. The Curlin colt surged to the lead, getting the mile in 1:36.58 before winning with a final time of 1:43.04.
“He broke very well and was nice and relaxed outside the leader (Getaway Car),” Rispoli said. “I started to wind him up on the turn. He’s so smart and changed leads perfectly and then gave me a real nice finish.”
Getaway Car came in second, Gaming a distant third, Doug O’Neill-trained Rank (20-1) fourth and Baffert’s other colt Mellencamp (25-1) last.
Journalism paid $7.60 to win, led a $1 exacta worth $15.80 and a $1 trifecta that returned $25.70. There was no place or show wagering.
The race rewarded 10-5-3-2-1 Derby qualifying points to the five horses. Since it was not a 50- or 100-point prep, it did not fall under a new rule that reduces the points for small fields.
Journalism, an $825,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale in August 2023, is owned by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 and Robert LaPenta. He ran his record to 3: 2-0-0 and, with the $120,000 for winning Saturday, increased his purse earnings to $158,880.
Baffert had won eight of the first 10 runnings of the Futurity since it was moved to Los Alamitos in 2014. He also won six times at its original home Hollywood Park.