Journalism returned to the winner’s enclosure for the first time in almost a year after overcoming a costly start in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.
The Grade 2 race was expected to provide the four-year-old with a fairly simple chance to regain the winning habit. Sent off at odds of 1-5 against only four rivals, Journalism was rated well above his opponents despite carrying the top weight of 125lb.
Those expectations were put under serious threat as soon as the stalls opened.
Journalism came out five or six lengths behind the field, leaving jockey Umberto Rispoli with an immediate problem. What looked like a routine assignment had suddenly become a test of patience, racing position and the colt’s ability to recover.
A Bad Start Changes the Race
Journalism appeared to move forward shortly before the gates opened and then struck the side of his stall. While his four rivals raced towards the first turn, the favourite was left trailing at the rear.
Mirahmadi took advantage of the situation and moved into the early lead. He completed the opening quarter-mile in 23.34 seconds and reached the half-mile point in 47.47 seconds.
Rispoli responded calmly. Rather than asking Journalism to regain all the lost ground at once, he allowed the son of Curlin to find his stride before gradually moving closer.
By the time the field reached the far turn, Journalism had made up much of the gap. Rispoli then moved him towards the outside, giving the favourite room to build his challenge.
It was a key part of the ride. Journalism is not always known for producing a sudden burst of speed, but he can maintain a strong run once he begins to gather pace.
Rivals Try to Take Their Chance
Mirahmadi began to weaken as the race approached the home straight, while The Goat briefly took over at the front.
The Goat was carrying the main hopes of trainer John Sadler following the withdrawal of Full Serrano. A recurring hoof problem meant the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner was unable to take his place in the race.
Full Serrano had been regarded as Journalism’s main threat. His absence reduced the field to five runners and appeared to make the favourite’s task easier.
However, the poor start gave the other four horses a chance to put Journalism under pressure.
The Goat could not sustain his effort after reaching the lead. Iron Man Cal and Shea Brennan also entered the contest, with the latter finding space to make his move in the straight.
Journalism was gathering pace on the outside, though, and moved to the front with around one furlong left to run.
Shea Brennan continued to challenge but could not get past. Journalism crossed the line three-quarters of a length ahead of the 23-1 outsider, with Iron Man Cal another two and a quarter lengths away in third.
The winning time for the one-mile-and-half-a-furlong race was 1 minute 42.65 seconds.
Journalism Ends His Losing Run
The victory was Journalism’s seventh from 14 career starts and earned connections $180,000. His total prize money now stands at about $4.77 million.
More importantly, it ended a winless run which had lasted one day short of a year.
Journalism’s previous success came in the 2025 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. On that occasion, he also had to overcome a difficult race before getting up under Rispoli.
His form between the two victories was much better than a four-race losing sequence might first suggest.
Journalism finished second in the 2025 Pacific Classic before taking fourth place in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He returned in 2026 with a third-place finish in the Oaklawn Handicap and then filled the same position behind Nysos in the Metropolitan Handicap.
During that four-race spell, seven horses finished ahead of him. Five of those seven had won at the Breeders’ Cup, while another was Sovereignty, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
The San Diego Handicap was a clear step down from those races, but Journalism still needed to carry more weight than his rivals and overcome a major early setback.
A Welcome Reunion With Rispoli
The result also marked a successful reunion between Journalism and Rispoli.
The former Italian champion had not ridden the colt since their second-place finish in the Pacific Classic in August 2025. Jose Ortiz took over for Journalism’s next four appearances.
Rispoli’s own career was then placed on hold following a serious fall at Gulfstream Park in January 2026. He fractured his right tibia and fibula, displaced his ankle and suffered ligament damage.
His treatment included surgery to place screws and a rod in his leg. He also spent time working with a specialist in Spain during a demanding five-month recovery.
Rispoli only returned to race riding in June, making the victory at Del Mar an important personal result as well as a major win for Journalism’s connections.
The jockey’s knowledge of the horse was clear after the poor break. He remained patient, brought Journalism back into the race and waited until the final turn before making his strongest move.
Trainer Michael McCarthy felt that Rispoli handled the situation well, while also pointing to the natural ability of Journalism as the main reason the pair recovered.
From $825,000 Purchase to Classic Winner
Journalism is a bay colt by two-time American Horse of the Year Curlin and out of the Grade 1 winner Mopotism, a daughter of Uncle Mo.
He was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation and sold for $825,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners bought him from the Denali Stud draft. His ownership group now also includes Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Elayne Stables 5, Robert LaPenta and members of the Coolmore team.
Journalism began proving his value during his two-year-old season by winning the Los Alamitos Futurity. He then developed into one of the leading American three-year-olds of 2025.
His wins in the San Felipe Stakes and Santa Anita Derby made him one of the main Kentucky Derby runners. He finished second to Sovereignty at Churchill Downs before winning the Preakness Stakes two weeks later.
Another second behind Sovereignty followed in the Belmont Stakes, after which Journalism added the Haskell Stakes to his record.
Another Pacific Classic Attempt Possible
The San Diego Handicap is one of the main races used by horses preparing for the Pacific Classic, which will be run over one mile and a quarter at Del Mar on August 22.
Journalism finished second in the $1 million race last year and is an obvious candidate to return. However, McCarthy had not confirmed his participation immediately after the San Diego victory.
One likely rival is Nysos, who won the 2025 San Diego Handicap and later defeated Journalism by four lengths in the 2026 Met Mile. The Bob Baffert-trained five-year-old is expected to try a mile and a quarter for the first time in the Pacific Classic.
That would give Journalism the chance to reverse their Saratoga form on his home circuit.
First, his connections can enjoy a victory which was badly needed. Journalism had continued to run well in top company, but another defeat would have added to the pressure surrounding him.
Instead, he showed patience, stamina and class to recover from a near-disastrous start. The winning margin was less than a length, yet the performance was far more convincing than that figure alone suggests.
