Journalism fights his way to Preakness Stakes win
Mike McCarthy's trainee Journalism overcomes hard jostling down the final stretch to win a thrilling 150th Preakness Stakes.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
31 minutes ago
- Washington Post
How to bet Saturday's Belmont Stakes
The 157th Belmont Stakes, set for Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, promises an electrifying finale to the Triple Crown season. This year's field features a compelling rematch between Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness Stakes champion Journalism, both vying for supremacy in the final leg of the three-race series. Adding intrigue is Baeza, the Derby's third-place finisher, who enters the race well rested and seemingly poised for a breakthrough performance. With only eight contenders, two of which are expected to be short-priced entries, you have to be judicious with your wagering dollars. Here are some strategies and factors to consider before heading to the ticket window. After that commendable third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby — closing strong from 15th position — Baeza opted to bypass the Preakness, focusing on targeted training for the Belmont. His Brisnet speed figures have steadily improved from 79 to 88 to 98 to 107; he recorded a 102 over a muddy surface at the Derby. Notably, his 107 figure in the April 5 Grade I Santa Anita Derby was a career-best, indicating his capacity to excel while competing at the highest level. Plus, his recent six-furlong workout at Santa Anita, where he clocked in at a solid 1:12.40, underscores his readiness. Baeza's pedigree is also noteworthy. He is a half brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes champion Dornoch, both offspring of his mare, Puca. If Baeza wins, Puca would become the only dam of three Triple Crown race winners, all in consecutive years. With two committed front-runners in Rodriguez and Crudo, the Belmont could feature a fast early pace that sets up well for horses with strong finishing ability. But that's no guarantee. Typically, I like to see three or more front-runners in a field before I anticipate a pace fast enough to advantage those late-running horses. Since Rodriguez has shown his speed against better competition, I prefer him over Crudo. I would also expect that Baeza, a tactical stalker, would benefit from the anticipated pace. He's fast enough to stay within striking range and often restrained enough to avoid getting caught in a speed duel. If the pace is swift, horses such as Journalism and Uncaged may find themselves pressing too close to the pace, potentially dulling their finishing kick. However, I would be very surprised if the pace is so fast that closers such as Sovereignty and Hill Road are able to take command in the late stages. AccuWeather says there should be three hours of rain on Saturday at Saratoga, with a 26 percent chance of thunderstorms. If the Belmont is run on an off track, focus on horses with tactical speed and the ability to stay close to the pace, as deep closers may struggle with footing and reduced visibility from kickback. In such conditions, Baeza, a stalker, could again gain an advantage by positioning just off the leaders, avoiding the worst of the kickback while conserving energy for a strong finish. Similarly, pressers such as Journalism and Uncaged might benefit from being near the front, especially if the early pace is moderate because of subpar track conditions. Closers such as Sovereignty and Hill Road might find it challenging to make up ground late, as the wet surface can sap the energy needed for a powerful closing run. It's also worth noting that some horses have demonstrated proficiency on off tracks in past performances, such as Uncaged. He's won two races on a muddy track, with one of those victories at Saratoga. He is the only horse in the field with a win at this track, rain or shine. Small fields such as this one, with two short-priced horses, are not often lucrative for bettors, so you have to be judicious with your bankroll. Personally, I would limit a majority of my exotic bets to exactas — bets in which you pick the top two finishers in the correct order — looking to cash in on Rodriguez and Baeza to win and come in second. The same idea holds true for the trifectas and superfectas, although those would demand smaller bets. Here is my strategy. Rodriguez, Baeza, Journalism and Heart of Honor should be fast enough to be competitive, and those are the horses I'll consider in exactas and trifectas. Specifically, I am looking for the following payouts to make a $2 exacta wager. If you don't see payouts in the pool that reach these levels, then don't place the bet(s). Recent experience suggests the exacta pools for using Journalism in the win or place slots will certainly not be high enough to justify the potential return, so they aren't included in the table. For the trifecta, here is how I would structure my tickets. (The 3 horse is Rodriguez, the 6 is Baeza, the 7 is Journalism and the 8 is Heart of Honor.) $1 trifecta using 3 with 6 with 7 and 8 (3/6/7,8) for $2 $1 trifecta using 6 with 3 with 7 and 8 (6/3/7,8) for $2 $1 trifecta using 7 and 8 with 6 with 3 (7,8/6/3) for $2 Our superfecta will use a strategy called the 'double exacta box,' which aims to back up your exacta with a super that adds the next two most likely horses boxed in the three and four slots. If we hit the exacta, we will have set ourselves up for a potential big payoff. $1 super 3 and 6 with 3 and 6 with 7 and 8 with 7 and 8 (3,6/3,6/7,8/7,8) for $4
Bloomberg
2 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Bet Against Journalism in Belmont Stakes: David Papadopoulos
If you missed the Preakness Stakes, call up the NBC replay. I've been watching thoroughbreds run for a long, long time. I'd never seen one do what Journalism did that day. With a quarter mile to go, he squeezed his big frame through an impossibly narrow hole and then, after careening off rivals and losing all momentum, unleashed a sudden, frantic rally to nail the leader in the shadow of the finish line.
6 hours ago
Sovereignty vs. Journalism in the Belmont gives horse racing a Kentucky Derby rematch
Horse racing is getting a Kentucky Derby rematch in the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday to close out the Triple Crown. Derby winner Sovereignty and runner-up Journalism, who won the Preakness two weeks later, headline the field of eight in the Belmont. Add in Baeza, and the top three finishers from the first Saturday in May are involved. 'We're delighted to have the first three horses out of the Derby challenging each other again,' said Michael Banahan of Godolphin, which owns Sovereignty. 'It's a quality race. ... It should set up well, and may the best horse win.' Journalism opened as the 8-5 morning line favorite with Sovereignty the second choice at 4-1. Journalism won the Preakness run without Sovereignty after owners and trainer Bill Mott opted to give their horse extra rest. The intent was to focus on the Belmont rather than chase the chance for Sovereignty to become the sport's 14th Triple Crown champion and first since Justify in 2018. 'We felt that the best thing for him and to have a career through the whole season, and maybe into next year as well, was spacing his races a little bit,' Banahan said. 'Bill Mott, who's trained horses for us for a long time, is very judicious about where he wants to place his horses. And we put a lot of faith in the recommendations that he would give us.' Michael McCarthy-trained Journalism is the only horse running in all three legs of the Triple Crown this year. And he is the favorite for a reason. 'Journalism is a very tough horse,' said John Shirreffs, who trains Baeza. 'One thing about Journalism, (if) he runs his race (like in) Kentucky, Pimlico, he's very tough. He's solid. So, it's going to be a very difficult horse to beat.' Shirrefs said Baeza is emerging and developing, hoping the half-brother of last year's Belmont winner, Dornoch, can stride along and get past Sovereignty and Journalism this time. 'Hopefully we get out of the gate well and get a nice pace,' Shirrefs said. 'It's just the how the race unfolds and him not getting into any trouble.' Long shot Heart of Honor is running again after finishing fifth in the Preakness three weeks ago. New to the Triple Crown trail are Hill Road, Uncaged, Crudo and Rodriguez, who was scratched from the Derby with a minor foot bruise that also caused him to miss the Preakness. Banahan expects Rodriguez to go to the lead, as so many of Hall of Fame and two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert's top horses do, and provide the main speed. 'That horse is going to be ready,' Chad Brown, trainer of Hill Road, said of Rodriguez. 'You can be assured of that. And it sure looks like he's by far the fastest horse in the race.' Brown has won the Preakness twice but never the Belmont. After going to Saratoga with his parents while growing up and getting into horse racing as a result, he's hoping to end his drought at his home track. 'We have a very unique time in history where there'll be three Belmont Stakes run total at Saratoga before you'll never see another one again,' Brown said. 'So, to be part of history with that, that would be extra special.'
