Watch: Journalism tunes up Friday for Breeders' Cup Classic

With 15 days until the race, multiple Grade 1 winner Journalism had his penultimate workout for the Breeders' Cup Classic on Friday. He was among several Breeders’ Cup hopefuls on the work tab at Santa Anita.

Journalism was clocked going five furlongs in 59.2 seconds while in company with stablemate Yellow Card. It was the second-fastest of 41 works at the distance.

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“He finished strong and galloped out strong,” trainer Michael McCarthy said.

Yellow Card, a 4-year-old colt who is Grade 1-placed on turf, was timed in 1:00.20.

Aboard Journalism for the drill was his regular work rider, Tony Gutierrez. While the company of Yellow Card was by design, Journalism also caught some unexpected company from another horse while turning into the stretch.

“It was good for him” Gutierrez said. “We were going to get a little serious today. I caught my workmate near the quarter pole, but then when (Journalism) saw that horse in front of us, he puffed himself up, went to the rail and chased him. It was perfect. Everything with him is perfect. His mind. His body. He wasn’t even blowing when I got him back to the barn. Amazing horse.”

The 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic is Nov. 1 at Del Mar. It will be Journalism’s first start in three months. A 3-year-old colt by Curlin, Journalism most recently finished second to Fierceness in the Pacific Classic (G1) at 1 1/4 miles when facing older horses for the first time on Aug. 30 at Del Mar. In seven starts this year, Journalism has won four graded stakes while never finishing worse than second. His wins include the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park, and both the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita.

Overall, Journalism is 10: 6-3-1 with $3,998,880 in earnings. He is owned by an extensive partnership that includes Bridlewood Farm, breeder Don Alberto Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Also working towards the Breeders’ Cup for McCarthy was Touch of Destiny, who is targeting the Dirt Mile for his North America debut. A 3-year-old colt by Midshipman, Touch of Destiny was credited with a one-mile work in 1:47.00. It was his sixth work since arriving stateside from his native Uruguay in mid-summer. Touch of Destiny won all six of his starts in Uruguay this year, including a Group 3 victory most recently on June 29.