BALTIMORE -- It was a rally for the ages.
Going into the final turn, those of us at Pimlico were wondering how it was that jockey Umberto Rispoli would attack the final stretch. As he stayed toward the rail, I elbowed a buddy and said, “Oh man, Umberto’s going up the rail.”
What happened next is nothing short of legendary: pinned in a set of three horses, as race leader Gosger kicked away, Journalism showed the determination we’ve all come to expect as he forced his way through a path that - depending on how you wagered on the race - was (or wasn’t) there. Kudos to Pimlico track announcer Dave Rodman, who spotted the move before it unfolded, and was confident in Journalism’s inevitable victory.
Journalism will now try to become the first horse to win the Preakness and Belmont after not winning the Derby since Afleet Alex in 2005. Others have also done it in recent memory, including Point Given in 2001, and Tabasco Cat in 1994. If he were to win the last two legs of the Triple Crown, the “what ifs” will be more than warranted.
But his win in Baltimore also sets up something that’s great for horse racing: a potential re-match with Derby winner Sovereignty at historic Saratoga Race Course for the Belmont. And while Sovereignty will have a decided rest advantage, nothing about Journalism’s demeanor the morning after the Preakness suggested he won’t be ready for the Belmont. At this moment, he’s the last of the Preakness starters to ship from Pimlico; the connections are clearly deciding which spot is best for him next.
It will require something special for either Journalism or Sovereignty to win in the Belmont: since 2019, there have been 20 different winners of the 20 Triple Crown races. One has to go back to Triple Crown winner Justify to see a multiple winner in the series.
UNKNOWNS SURROUND OTHERS LEAVING PREAKNESS
Gosger, who ran a terrific second in the Preakness and would’ve been a deserving winner, came out of the race well, trainer Brendan Walsh told me this morning. His next start is TBD as of today, but expect to see him in another graded stakes this summer - or more. Walsh is high on him moving forward, and in a barn with another capable 3-year-old in East Avenue, Walsh is one to watch this summer. Jockey Luis Saez gave Gosger every chance to win, and should retain his mounts moving forward
Crowd favorite Sandman ran a good third, showing his usual late kick in the final stages of Preakness 150. He’s got to be a conundrum for his connections, as he is obviously talented, but takes an incredible amount of time to get his engine moving. He has a bit of Sierra Leone’s style to him, where the talent is obvious, but is incredibly pace-dependent. He had 5 weeks off between his win in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby, so he might be able to start in the Belmont, before a deserved break.
Clever Again, a Steve Asmussen trainee, was part of the mayhem in the stretch. His talent is obvious, and I would expect to see him run in one of the midwest derbies - Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, or Iowa. He’s well-suited to win a stakes at that level, and if you can get a graded win as a 3-year-old, you do it.
River Thames was a disappointment in Baltimore, as a Preakness win continues to elude trainer Todd Pletcher, who has largely accomplished everything there is to accomplish in horse racing. If looking for the positive, his performances in his two Derby preps were very good, and he’s a capable runner. It would be reasonable to draw a line through this performance. If we’re looking negative, he’s now 0-for-3 in graded stakes, and that Preakness run was unacceptable. I tend to lean more positive with River Thames, whom I expect to see at Saratoga this summer.
WHAT’S NEXT
We’ll keep the Southern California previews rolling, both here at the Trib, but also on the Trib’s YouTube page. If you haven’t checked out SoCal Saturdays, you’re missing out! I gave out 4 on top winners on the 10 race card yesterday, including the winners of races 5, 6, and 7 in a row. We’d love to have you as a weekly patron, as the show will extend throughout all of 2025 to both Del Mar and Los Alamitos.
You can always email your thoughts to TSThorseracing@gmail.com. See you next week.