Journalism overcame a tardy start under Umberto Rispoli, then showed his class to power clear and win the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap by three-quarters of a length at Del Mar. (© Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Press
The expectations could not have been more different, but the outcomes were both the same.
Journalism, the 1/5 favorite in the 85th edition of the San Diego Handicap, overcame trouble at the gate and powered to a three-quarter length victory in the $300,000, Grade II headliner at Del Mar Saturday.
Somerset West, the 35-1 longest shot on the board, saved every inch of ground in a mile on the turf and came home a half-length on top in the 59th running of the San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies. She wound up paying her backers $73.40.
Journalism, owned by an extensive group headed by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, broke tardily and spotted his four rivals several lengths, but soon moved up into the mix under Umberto Rispoli and offered a true version of “class” in his winning run for home. The big Curlin colt, trained to the minute by Mike McCarthy, was just too much horse when the real battle was joined and registered the seventh victory of his stellar career in the mile and a sixteenth affair. He picked up a check for $180,000 to move his current bankroll to $4,770,775 and sent a signal to all that he will be a serious force to deal with when Del Mar offers its foremost race, the $1-million, Grade I Pacific Classic on Saturday, August 22.
Nick Alexander’s Shea Brennan closed a gap late and earned second money in the San Diego, two and a quarter lengths ahead of Little Red Feather Racing and Madaket Stables’ Iron Man Cal. The winning time for the test was 1:42.65 and Journalism returned a mere $2.40 to those who backed him at the wickets.
Somerset West, a chestnut daughter of Kantharos, was handled smartly by Armando Ayuso in the Grade II, $200,000 San Clemente, saving every inch of green even though they started from Post 10. Then the John Sadler trainee took advantage of a lovely hole on the rail turning for home and burst through to pass her nine rivals and come away a winner.
“Somerset” earned a payday of $120,000 for her efforts meaning her current bankroll is now $190,200. She’s won two of her five starts, this one being her first in a stakes race. Final time for the race was 1:34.76.
Second in the San Clemente was Hopless Stables, Little Red Feather Racing and partners’ Inbox, who had a length and a quarter on race favorite Raiding Party, owned by Larry Rodgers, Jamie Lamonica and Fick Farms.
Racing will resume at the seaside oval Sunday with a first post scheduled for 2 p.m.
UMBERTO RISPOLI (Journalism, winner) – “He was leaning forward, then he took a step back just as they popped the gate. He was away a little slow; I think he might have spotted those other horse maybe five or six lengths. But by the time we got to the first turn, I was comfortable. He had picked it up and I knew I had the horse under me. This horse has the class. You’ve always got to be careful in a race; anything can happen. But he was the best horse by far today. When it came time, he was there.”
MICHAEL MCCARTHY (Journalism, winner) – “I didn’t look like he was totally set behind. Looked like he kicked the doors a time or two. Looked like he had one foot in front of the other. When the doors opened he went to reset and it caused him to drop down. But Umberto (Rispoli) did a good job of getting him to recover and his class won out.”
FRACTIONS: :23.34 :47.47 1:11.58 1:36.37 1:42.65
The stakes win for both the jockey and the trainer was their first of the meet.
The stakes win was the first in the San Diego for Rispoli, but his 47th at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the first in the San Diego for McCarthy, but his 20th at Del Mar.
The winning owners are a large ownership group headed by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.
