Preakness winner Journalism, one of the nation’s top older horses, returns from a six-week freshening to headline Saturday’s Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar for trainer Mike McCarthy and jockey Umberto Rispoli. (Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Press
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable and partners’ Journalism, one of the nation’s top older horses with more than $4.5 million in earnings under his belt, makes his first start in six weeks Saturday when he heads a stakes doubleheader card at Del Mar in the $300,000, Grade II San Diego Handicap.
The big Curlin colt, a winner in 2025 of four major stakes during a stellar sophomore campaign – including the Preakness – under the able handling of trainer Mike McCarthy, will be reunited with rider Umberto Rispoli Saturday as they take on six rivals in the 85th edition of the San Diego, a mile and one-sixteenth crucible which is considered the main prep for the track’s piece de resistance, the Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic on Saturday, August 22.
Also on this Saturday’s program is the 59th running of the Grade II, $200,000 San Clemente Handicap which has drawn 11 3-year-old fillies to a mile spin on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. Likely favorite in that test is the eastern-based miss Ground Support, who is owned by NBS Stable and will be handled by her regular rider Adam Beschizza.
In all, there will be 11 races on Day 2 of 32 on the seaside agenda. First post will be 2 p.m. with the San Diego scheduled for approximately 5:30 p.m. and the San Clemente slotted for 6:00 p.m.
