Journalism conquered a very strong Bob Baffert trio in the Grade 2 $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 14 at Los Alamitos, putting the finishing touches on an excellent two weeks, trainer Michael McCarthy. McCarthy won the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby with Formidable Man at Del Mar on Nov. 30, ran second in the Grade 2 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 7 with Look Forward, and then Journalism demonstrated promise that bodes well for his chances on the 2025 Triple Crown trail.

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Beating Baffert in a 2-year-old graded stakes at Los Alamitos this time of year is nearly impossible. Baffert owns the Futurity since it moved to Los Alamitos in 2014, winning eight of the 10 runnings. For the 2024 edition, Baffert brought graded winners Gaming and Getaway Car, second and fourth, respectively, in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, as well as promising maiden Mellencamp.

Gaming was the logical choice and went off as the 1-2 favorite, but bettors didn't ignore Journalism's impressive maiden score at Del Mar on Nov. 17, when fellow Futurity entrants Rank and Mellencamp were among the vanquished. Journalism was made the 5-2 second choice.

Getaway Car, whose pacesetting abilities served him well when he won the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 11, tried to control the early going again, taking the lead shortly after the gate opened for the 1 1/16-mile race. But jockey Umberto Rispoli and Journalism didn't let him get too far ahead as Gaming on the rail stayed close as well.

"Umberto bounced out of there and put him in the game early," said McCarthy. "He found himself a little wide on the first turn, but he was always cruising up the backside."

When the field headed into the second turn, Gaming on the inside launched his best effort. He couldn't sustain it, whereas Journalism was just gearing up.

Journalism and Rispoli all smiles. (BENOIT photo)

"Around the three-eighths pole, Umberto was asking him to pick it up and he was kind of slowly getting there," McCarthy said. "You could see it took him a bit to get his feet underneath him, but once he leveled off in the lane, he was very good."

So good, in fact, that Journalism's momentum propelled him past Getaway Car. Journalism increased his advantage to 3 1/2 lengths at the wire, stopping the timer in 1:43.04. Getaway Car finished second, three lengths in front of Gaming, followed by Rank, and Mellencamp.

The Futurity offered points on the Road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve: 10 to Journalism, five to Getaway Car, three to Gaming, two to Rank, and one to Mellencamp. With earlier points earned, Gaming and Getaway Car are currently second and third on the leaderboard, with 18 and 16 points respectively. Journalism's 10 puts him into a seven-way tie for fifth. Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull leads with 40.

The Kentucky Derby points and the $120,000 first-place purse made the decision to supplement Journalism to the race for $7,500 a good one for the ownership group. Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, and Robert LaPenta are the partners in Journalism.

"We gave this horse every opportunity not to run today, but he had two wonderful works, and he was very cool and composed in the paddock," McCarthy said. "He's picking things up fast."

McCarthy also trains another good 2-year-old in Bullard, a son of Gun Runner who is 2-for-2 after winning the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes Nov. 17 at Del Mar.