(Reuters/Field Level Media) – Journalism won the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course in stunning fashion, catching longshot Gosger just before the wire after recovering from a bump down the stretch.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Journalism broke well from the second gate and settled off the pace that was set by Clever Again. The 3-year-old colt ran a similar race as he did in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, coming from back in the pack to contend down the stretch. This time Journalism and Rispoli, who finished second in Louisville, had enough in the tank to take the lead in the final strides.
Before that, though, Journalism was sixth coming out of the final turn and appeared to be pinned along the rail. Rispoli placed him between Goal Oriented and Clever Again — and the three horses bumped. With Gosger several lengths ahead, the colt sired by Curlin recovered in time to edge Gosger, who at 15-1 was the third-longest shot in the field of nine, at the wire.
Coming out of the turn, Rispoli and Flavien Prat, the jockey on Goal Oriented, made contact with each other as Rispoli urged Journalism to make his move.
Stewards at Pimlico reviewed the race but did not take Journalism down as the winner, giving him five victories in his last six starts.
Speaking to reporters, Rispoli said he first thought about taking his horse wide coming out of the final turn. Then he remembered some advice he received from Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey.
“A little gap was open, and I say ‘It’s now or never,’ ” said Rispoli, who became the first Italian jockey to win a Triple Crown race. “It’s horse racing. I think it’s a nice battle for the sport. Everybody (came) out safe.”
The win gives trainer Michael McCarthy his second Preakness victory and second in a Triple Crown race. He won with Rombauer four years ago.
Going off at even odds, Journalism paid $4 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show. Gosger, trained by Brendan Walsh and ridden by Luis Saez, paid $9 and $5.40. Sandman paid $3.60.
“You’re disappointed not to win, but you cannot be disappointed in the horse,” Walsh told FanDuelTV moments after the race. “He made a big step up today, and I think he can still improve, this horse, off of this.”
The Triple Crown races conclude on June 7 with the Belmont Stakes, held this year at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty is expected to enter the 1 1/2 mile race after his owners and trainer Bill Mott decided to skip the Preakness because of the two weeks between races. Journalism’s connections likely will not make any decision about a rematch for a few more days.
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