Del Mar: Journalism looks right at home for San Diego Handicap

Last year at this time Journalism was preparing for the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park. He had been the only horse to run in all three jewels of the Triple Crown, finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, first in the Preakness Stakes and second again to Sovereignty in the Belmont Stakes. He would go on to win the Haskell in dramatic fashion, surging late to run down very game Gosger. That’s why he was the odds-on favorite to win the Pacific Classic (G1) six weeks later. He would come up short that day, finishing second to Fierceness in Del Mar’s marquee race. Click here for Del Mar entries and results . Journalism would run one more time at Del Mar, running fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the fall. The 4-year-old son of Curlin returns to the seaside oval Saturday when he will be the even-money program favorite taking on six rivals in the Grade 2, $300,000 San Diego Handicap , a 1 1/16-mile local prep for the Pacific Classic. “It’s nice to have a home game for him,” trainer Michael McCarthy said, “instead of having to put him on a plane.” McCarthy has run Journalism twice this year, both times outside of California. He finished third behind White Abarrio and Sovereignty in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) in Arkansas, and he posted another third-place finish in the Met Mile (G1) at Saratoga on Belmont Stakes day. “He’s a very impressive, physical specimen,” McCarthy said. “He’s a bigger, stronger horse this year.” Journalism, whose owners are led by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, will have Umberto Rispoli back in the saddle and a top impost of 125 pounds. Rispoli rode the colt all through 2025 until the Breeders’ Cup. That was where he was replaced by José Ortiz, who had been his...