Welcome to Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles, where we’ll take a look each week at a recent winner on the Triple Crown trail, usually from the Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule that grants qualifying points to the first jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown. The 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve will be held May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs.

This week, we’ll take a closer look at Journalism, winner by 3 ½ lengths of the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 14 at Los Alamitos. The Curlin colt earned his first 10 points toward qualifying for the 2025 Kentucky Derby with the win and currently ranks 10^th on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Racing Résumé: Journalism rallied late to finish third in his career debut sprinting three-quarters of a mile Oct. 27 at Santa Anita Park. He improved significantly when stretching out in distance for his next two races.

The bay 2-year-old colt won a one-mile maiden special weight race at Del Mar by 2 ½ lengths Nov. 17, rallying from fifth of 10 after a half-mile in :46.22 to win easily with a final quarter-mile in :24.96 and a final eighth of a mile in :12.41.

The pace was significantly slower in his stakes debut in the 1 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Futurity – an opening half-mile in :47.75 – so Journalism stalked pacesetter Getaway Car from within a length and a half. Getaway Car put away Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Gaming, the 1-2 favorite, approaching the stretch, but Journalism had fuel in reserve and surged past for a dominant victory under Umberto Rispoli. Journalism completed his final sixteenth of a mile in 6.46 seconds, not as fast as his maiden win but understandable given he was closer to the pace.

He defeated in the Los Alamitos Futurity both FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance runner-up Gaming and fourth-place finisher Getaway Car, who ran second and third, respectively, in the Dec. 14 race.

Journalism looks like a 2-year-old racehorse who should thrive in two-turn races and will target the Road to the Kentucky Derby races at Santa Anita Park in 2025, which begin with the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at a mile on Feb. 1.

“We’ll try to go six weeks between races,” trainer Michael McCarthy told Daily Racing Form.

Speed Figures: Journalism earned an 86 Equibase Speed Figure for his debut. He boosted that to a 103 for his one-mile maiden win and a 104 for the Los Alamitos Futurity. Likewise, Journalism is on an upward trajectory in terms of Daily Racing Form’s Beyer Speed Figures with a line of 72-82-87 for his first three starts. He will need to continue to improve his speed figures, but the pattern is encouraging and he should be fresh for his 3-year-old debut.

Running Style: Journalism showed in the Los Alamitos Futurity that he has enough speed to settle in just behind the pacesetter and in his maiden win he demonstrated the ability to rate farther back and close into a faster pace. That type of versatility should be an asset in the Kentucky Derby qualifying races in winter and early spring 2025.

Connections: Journalism is owned by the partnership of Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, and Robert V. LaPenta. Leslie and John Malone’s Bridlewood Farm, Aron Wellman’s Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and LaPenta previously teamed to finish sixth in the 2017 Kentucky Derby with Tapwrit, who went on to win the Belmont Stakes. LaPenta’s Ice Box finished second in the 2010 Kentucky Derby, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners was a part-owner of 2014 Derby third-place finisher Danza. Liliana Solari and her son Carlos Heller operate Don Alberto, which bred and owns in interest in Journalism. Don Alberto Stable was a co-owner of 2017 Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Battle of Midway.

Rispoli and Journalism after the win. (BENOIT photo)

Michael McCarthy, a longtime assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, trains Journalism. McCarthy went out on his own in 2014 and has won more than 420 races with 12 individual Grade 1 winners, including 2021 Preakness Stakes winner Rombauer, 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner City of Light, and 2021 champion female sprinter Ce Ce.

Umberto Rispoli has ridden Journalism in two of his three starts. A native of Italy who moved full-time to the U.S. in 2020 and made Southern California his base, Rispoli has more than 550 wins in North America and has won multiple Grade 1 races every year since 2021, including Grade 1 wins in 2024 aboard Anisette, Johannes, and Formidable Man.

Pedigree Notes: Journalism is by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, the winner of the 2007 Preakness Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic who has developed into one of the major stamina influences among sires in the United States. Curlin is the sire of 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish as well as champions Idiomatic, Vino Rosso, Malathaat, Elite Power, Nest, Good Magic, and Stellar Wind.

Journalism’s dam (mother) is graded stakes winner Mopotism, by Uncle Mo. Mopotism was a Grade 2 winner at a mile, Grade 1-placed at 1 1/8 miles, and earned $876,090 over four seasons while placing four times in Grade 1 races.

Derby Potential: Given the improving speed figures with added distance, a strong class and stamina pedigree, the quality of competition he beat in the Los Alamitos Futurity, and accomplished human connections, Journalism definitely strikes me as a legitimate contender for the 2025 Kentucky Derby. He’s shown some versatility in terms of running style and has finished well in races, but there is no question he needs to continue to progress because he’s not fast enough yet on paper.

Needless to say, the future looks bright for Journalism.