Journalism (foaled February 6, 2022) is a retired multiple-Grade winning American Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old, he won the 2025 Grade I Santa Anita Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Haskell Stakes, and finished second in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and the Pacific Classic.
In his four-year-old season, he won the 2026 San Diego Handicap, and finished third in both the Oaklawn Handicap and the Metropolitan Mile. After winning the San Diego Handicap, he retired due to an injury. He finished unplaced only once in his career, finishing fourth in the 2025 Breeders' Cup Classic.
Background Journalism is a bay stallion who was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation out of the multiple Grade I-placed, graded stakes winner Mopotism. The daughter of Uncle Mo won the 2018 Grade II La Canada Stakes and placed in four Grade I stakes—the 2016 Starlet Stakes, 2017 La Brea Stakes, 2018 Santa Margarita Stakes, and 2019 Ogden Phipps Stakes. She was retired with a 3–5–6 record from 26 starts that included six other graded stakes performances with Earning of $876,090. Don Alberto bought Mopotism for $1.05 million during Fasig-Tipton's 2019 The November Sale out of Kingwood Farm's consignment. Journalism is the mare's first foal. Mopotism is out of the Bernardini daughter Peppy Rafaela, who is a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner Songster (Songandaprayer).
Journalism's sire is Curlin, the 2007 and 2008 American Horse of the Year who stands in 2025 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms for $225,000.
Eclipse purchased Journalism for $825,000 at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale in 2023 out of the Denali Stud consignment. The Eclipse portion of the ownership group includes breeder Don Alberto, Bridlewood Farm, Elayne Stables 5, and Robert LaPenta. On March 31, 2025, prior to the running of the Santa Anita Derby the Coolmore group after an agreement to stand Journalism at Ashford Stud upon his retirement, that the ownership also includes Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor, and that they are listed as lessees.
Journalism's name came from co-owner Aron Wellman, who was a sports editor for the Beverly Hills High School student newspaper.
Statistics Date Distance Race Grade Track Odds Field Finish WinningTime Winning(Losing)Margin Jockey Ref2024 – Two-year-old season 6 furlongs Maiden Special Weight Santa Anita 4.60 5 3 1:10.71 ( lengths) 6 furlongs Maiden Special Weight Del Mar 4.90 10 1 1:10.71 lengths miles Los Alamitos Futurity II Los Alamitos 2.80 5 1 1:43.04 lengths 2025 – Three-year-old season miles San Felipe Stakes II Santa Anita 3.10* 5 1 1:42.24 lengths miles Santa Anita Derby I Santa Anita 1.00* 5 1 1:49.56 length miles Kentucky Derby I Churchill Downs 3.42* 19 2 2:02.31 ( lengths) miles Preakness Stakes IPimlico 1.00* 9 1 1:55.47 length miles Belmont Stakes I Saratoga 2.05* 8 2 2:00.69 (3 lengths) miles Haskell Stakes I Monmouth Park0.40* 8 1 1:48.15 length miles Pacific Classic Stakes I Del Mar0.40* 7 2 2:01.00 ( lengths) miles Breeders' Cup Classic I Del Mar4.80 9 4 2:00.19 ( lengths) 2026 – Four-year-old season milesOaklawn HandicapIIOaklawn Park1.70631:47.49 ( lengths) 1 mileMetropolitan HandicapISaratoga2.03731:34.85 ( lengths) milesSan Diego HandicapIIDel Mar0.20*511:42.65 length
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Journalism was the post-time favorite.
Pedigree
Journalism is inbred 3S x 5D to the stallion Deputy Minister, meaning that he appears in the third generation on the sire side and in the fifth generation (via French Deputy) on the dam side of his pedigree.
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