Journalism and Rispoli heading to the gate to win the 150th Preakness. (Barbara Singer/Past the Wire)
Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Notes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Journalism, winner of the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, will look to avenge his runner-up effort to Sovereignty in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby when the foes rematch in Saturday’s Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Michael McCarthy for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, the Into Mischief bay worked a solo half-mile in 47.54 seconds this morning over the Spa main track with jockey Umberto Rispoli up.
NYRA clockers timed the talented colt through splits of an opening quarter-mile in 23 seconds before galloping out in 1:00 flat and 1:12 4/5.
McCarthy confirmed after the stellar move that Journalism would enter the fray and become the only horse to contest all three legs of this year’s Triple Crown.
“Based off of what I saw here this morning, I’d be hard-pressed to find a reason not to enter,” McCarthy said. “Very good [work], just kind of a maintenance work. Obviously, you saw him kind of pick it up through the lane and gallop out strongly – final quarter in 23 and three, 23 and four, something like that. Racetrack is probably a half-step quicker.
JOURNALISM is a go for the Belmont Stakes following his brilliant work this Sunday morning
— Agentes305 (@agentes305) June 1, 2025
4F – 47:54 with huge gallop out 100.10 112.60 up 7F 126.55
JOURNALISM voló en su ajuste del Domingo y confirmó su condición para decir presente este Sábado 07 de Junio en el Belmont… pic.twitter.com/b62TKuHGHf
“He’s a wonderful mover,” McCarthy added. “He gets over the ground very well. He’s got an incredible stride on him.”
Rispoli said Journalism was in good form throughout the breeze.
“It was very positive. He’s a horse that everyone knows is very intelligent, smart – he does everything right,” Rispoli said. “It looks like he didn’t even run two weeks ago. He took his work very well. He was very good on the track. He was happy.”
The Curlin bay has also captured the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, Grade 2 San Felipe, and Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity, while banking in excess of $2.8 million through a 7-5-1-1 record.
McCarthy, who arrived in New York on Friday, said he wanted to spend a could of days around the horse before making a decision on entering.
“Off of what I’ve seen – all the videos and what-have-you – the horse seems like he’s maintaining his edge, maintaining his form,” McCarthy said. “He put forth a heck of an effort in the Preakness. Coming back in three weeks’ time, obviously a solid piece of work here with little to no urging. It’s cooler up here, it seems like he’s enjoying himself – a fresh horse. I think sometimes with these good horses, you don’t really find out until race day and the running starts – [with] all of them, you can get fooled a bit, but he is a horse that I’ve thought could participate in all three [Triple Crown] races.”
McCarthy said Journalism has taken each challenge presented to him in his stride.
“He’s been like that since July of last year. He’ll go as fast as you’d like, as slow as you’d like. Good racehorses do those things,” McCarthy said.
Rispoli said he’s looking forward to the opportunity to again take on Sovereignty and Derby third-place finisher Baeza.
“I think it’s going to be good for the sport,” Rispoli said. “I wouldn’t exclude Baeza as well. Baeza was a head [neck] from me in the Kentucky Derby. I think he’s a serious contender.
“Both of them [Sovereignty and Baeza] had four/five weeks to recover before going to the Belmont,” he added. “I always say the best horse is going win. Hopefully, it will be our time this time. Both of us [Journalism and Sovereignty], I would say, had a good trip in the Derby. He beat me. Definitely, the slop didn’t help me, probably helped Sovereignty more than my horse, but that’s the game.”
Win or lose, Rispoli said he is honored to have the call on a Classic-winning horse.
“It’s a privilege. Horses like that don’t come around every year,” Rispoli said. “A horse that gives you a chance to ride the three legs of the Triple Crown, you don’t see many of them around. After 20 years of a career – to find a horse like that is unbelievable.”
Rispoli also breezed the McCarthy-trained mutliple graded stakes-winner Endlessly this morning over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino Manhattan on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
“[He worked] very well. A turf horse on a wet-ish racetrack, I thought he finished up well and galloped out strong,” McCarthy said. “He’s had a race under his belt now going a flat mile and I think the added three-sixteenths is certainly going to play to his favor.”
The 4-year-old Oscar Performance colt, an Amerman Racing homebred, has banked $749,200 via a 9-5-0-1 ledger.
The post position draw for the Belmont Stakes will be held on Monday at 5 p.m. Eastern.
Get insight into the runners with the Geo Sette Belmont Stakes Full Card Seminar.
