Welcome to the 2025 Triple Crown prospect profile. Here we’ll look at weekly with recent winners on the Triple Crown Trail.
This week’s profile is Journalism, with 150 Half Length winners.th Preakness Stakes edition on May 17th at Pimlico. Carlin Colt certainly offered a memorable farewell to Pimlico’s old facility. This was destroyed in the coming weeks and replaced by a modern venue for the 2027 edition of the race. This week’s profile explores what he learned about journalism at Preakness and how he will take the fare in the 1¼ mile Belmont Stakes in three weeks on the Saratoga racecourse.
Race overview: Before the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, journalism predicted not only would win the Derby, but would clean up the Triple Crown. His chances could be 14th The Triple Crown winner finished with runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, and his tough victory in the Preakness Stakes provided a touch of validation. My thoughts on entering the Derby were journalism being the fastest competitor on paper, perhaps the best finisher of the 3-year-old crop, showing consistent excellence in a four-race streak featuring sophomore and grade 1 victory in the Santa Anita Derby.
Sovereignty is another three-year-old who entered the Derby with a compelling argument as the best finisher on the dirt, and Me Chief Colt actually veiled journalism with a deep stretch at Churchill Downs, winning a 1½ length.
Journalism was defeated in his first attempt at the “off” track in the derby, despite his first start at 1¼ mile and a wide trip after returning to the 10th He’s early 19 years old. The Derby was a test race with huge fields, huge crowds and all sorts of new variables for racehorses, and journalism showed the fight, but the day was beaten by better racehorses.
The ability of journalism to overcome adversity was further tested in Preakness’s interests. He was angry before the race began due to race issues. Jumper Umberto Rispoli urged journalism to pass through the clever openings inside him again, and through the very narrow openings between goals heading outwards. Most racehorses would have been threatened by their convergence into space, but journalism plunged his way, showing big grit rocking with shots in the top three finish.
Journalism has not only settled on minor awards and moral victory. He ran at 12.30 in the final eighth mile and received an astonishing half-long victory to make up for the five lengths with the runner-up Gosgar.
“It really ignored the logic,” said Aron Wellman, founder and president of Eclipse Sourbred Partners and managing partner of ownership groups. “Anyone who sees a lot of races and is grateful for what these spectacular animals can do, what they did there from the start as a matter of courage, courage and courage, and courage, and so that they can accelerate again and have the physical ability to cut a good horse like a Goger, you don’t think it will happen.”
Speed number: The victory of Preakness in Journalism is a reminder that past performances and what you can see in the speed figures acquired by Speed Figures doesn’t portray the big picture. Journalism scored a 109 equestrian speed figure, one point away from the career-high numbers they scored in March when they won the DK Horse Sun Felipe Stakes. The 98 Beyer Speed figure given to journalism for the Preakness victory was 10 points slower than the 108 he scored at San Felipe, below 102 points he scored in the Santa Anita Derby victory and second place in the Kentucky Derby. I think most people who have seen Preakness agree that it is a victory that cannot be quantified by number and that it was the best race ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twsq2ydlizk
Running Style: Trainer Michael McCarthy said journalism was considering the Belmont Stakes on Sunday, the day after Preakness’ victory, and was shipped from Baltimore to the Saratoga race course on May 19th. It’s not a guarantee that he will compete in Belmont, but it qualifies as a promising sign. In terms of his chances in the Belmont stakes, journalism has the tactical speed for stalking/close — certainly more speed than he showed in his last two races — and that’s positive for the Belmont stakes, as the deep closer is at a disadvantage on the dirt route in Saratoga. Journalism is very likely to improve his Belmont stakes chances, especially.
Bloodline Memo: Journalism Bull, Hall of Fame Carlin was a gritty, determined racehorse who always stood up for the fight. Carlin is also an outstanding bull like the 2023 Horse of the Year, with his achievements like Cody’s wishes and champion Vino Rosso, Malassart, Elite Power, Idiommatic, Good Magic, Star Wind, and the nest.
The Grade 2 winner Mopotism by champion Uncle Mo is the dam (mother) of journalism. Mopotism won $876,090, making it four grade 1 races in four seasons at the racetrack.
Belmont bets chances and what we learned: Let’s start with what we’ve learned about Preakness’ journalism. In addition to the mental strength he showed in the face of adversity. He proved to be a sturdy racehorse that can return and run huge races on two weeks of rest. He watched this blood horse + video and saw him as if he came out of Preakness in a great form. Racing fans often lament that they don’t (or train) horses the way they used to, and journalism is a throwback.
Throughout the 2025 Triple Crown Trail, journalism said it has the ability to track a solid pace and still end strong. But I never considered journalism an explosive before Preakness, but he really showed me something when he wins half the length from the five lengths behind Gosgar. It was eye-catching – he has better legs than I thought.
So, what should we expect to see him compete in the Belmont stakes with this mentally and physically strong three-year-old with three weeks of rest? Obviously, he could regress in the third American classic race in five weeks and in the fourth grade race in eight weeks. Trainers are increasingly paying attention to races and rest to optimize their peak performance possibilities, and Baeza, the sovereignty of the Derby winner and third-place finisher, is ready for journalism in Belmont.
I think it is also important to note that if journalism competes in the Belmont Stakes, the race is billed as a “rematch” and “showdown”, but Baeza must be viewed in that class. He won the three-quarter length behind Santa Anita Derby journalism in his stakes debut and the neck behind him in the Kentucky Derby. Dornock, the 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Major and the 2024 Belmont Stakes winner, are eligible to improve in his sixth start with a five-week rest from trainer John Sheriff.
Similarly, Sovereignty Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott does what he thought was right for the 3-year-old, and he is one of the best jockeys on the planet. Sovereignty should exhale.
I chose Journalism three weeks ago to wipe out the Triple Crown. I’m not back at his third jewel chance now. I strongly believe he is the best horse in the 3 year old male category. I think he can and will prove that in the Belmont stakes.
