Preakness notes: Still waiting for decision about Journalism

After two days of jogging at Churchill Downs, Journalism galloped Friday for the first time since he finished second in the Kentucky Derby behind Sovereignty last Saturday. His status for Preakness 2025 remains uncertain.

“He looked great, showed good energy,” said Justin Curran, the assistant who oversees California-based trainer Michael McCarthy’s Churchill Downs division.

Foot trouble keeps Rodríguez out of Preakness 2025.

The Preakness decision is still pending for Journalism, who is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Curran said McCarthy will be at Churchill Downs on Sunday.

American Promise. Virginia Derby winner American Promise went out for a spirited gallop as soon as the Churchill Downs track opened Friday morning. Seven-time Preakness-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he’s seeing what he wants from the son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. American Promise finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby.

“He’s doing exceptionally well,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “He’s back in the feed tub, no worse for wear, almost like he didn’t participate the other day. So we feel pretty good about him. That’s all you can ask. But his energy level is really good.”

BC Stables’ American Promise will be the first Preakness mount for 31-year-old Maryland product Nik Juárez. Lukas said he plans to ship six horses to Pimlico for the weekend. Lukas said he will head to Baltimore Sunday to oversee setting up the barn, taking with fillies Princess Aliyah for the  Black-Eyed Susan (G2) and Lemon Muffin for the Allaire du Pont Distaff with him. He said his colts will van to Pimlico on Tuesday.

Pay Billy. RKTN Racing’s Pay Billy had a walk day Friday following his final work for the Preakness on Thursday at Delaware Park, and he continues to please trainer Mike Gorham ahead of what will be the Improbable colt’s most difficult test yet.

“Today he’s great,” Gorham said. “He felt good, bright and alert. No worse for the wear after his breeze.”

Regular rider Raul Mena, who was up for the half-mile breeze in 49.0 seconds, was named to make his Preakness debut. An automatic Preakness qualifier for his victory in the Federico Tesio on April 19 at Laurel Park, Pay Billy is scheduled to return to the track Saturday and ship to Pimlico on Tuesday.

“He’ll gallop (Saturday),” Gorham said. “Usually after a breeze like that, we give them one day off and then gallop and then just kind of gallop into the race. Maybe get a strong gallop one or two days, and that’s about it.”

Minneapolis-based attorney Nate Nelson is the managing partner for RKTN Racing, which will have 31 people in attendance on Preakness day.

“They’re really excited, and they’re new owners in the game, so they probably don’t even know the extent of what’s actually happening like (someone) that’s been around the game forever,” Gorham said. “They probably don’t know it’s as big a deal as it really is.”

Clever Again. Winchell Thoroughbreds, Magnier, Tabor and Smith’s Clever Again, winner of the two-turn mile Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn, was scheduled to school in the starting gate on a light-training Friday morning at Churchill Downs. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the son of American Pharoah is scheduled to work a half-mile Monday and ship to Baltimore on Tuesday.

Gosger. At Keeneland, Lexington (G3) winner Gosger had a routine gallop. Trainer Brendan Walsh has scheduled Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables’s colt to work Saturday.

River Thames. Winstar Farm, CHC, Pantofel Stable and Wachtel Stable’s River Thames is scheduled to tune up for his Preakness start by working out Saturday at Belmont Park.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the son of Maclean’s Music who was withheld from the Kentucky Derby while being pointed to the Preakness, finished a close second to Derby winner Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park before checking in third in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.

Heart of Honor. Jim and Claire Limited’s Heart of Honor is scheduled to quarantine at Churchill Downs until Monday following a transatlantic flight from Great Britain on Thursday. Trainer Jamie Osborne plans to have the UAE Derby (G2) runner-up vanned to Pimlico on Monday.