Journalism trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse
Journalism trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse
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Kentucky Derby 2025: Hear from jockey, trainer of Journalism
Journalism jockey Umberto Rispoli and trainer Michael McCarthy talk at Churchill Downs' backside as 2025 Kentucky Derby nears.
Journalism will enter the Kentucky Derby off a win in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5
With a four-race winning streak, Journalism is expected to be the morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby
Journalism is one of 20 horses expected to enter the 2025 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs.
Spots for the Run for the Roses are earned by gaining points through a series of Kentucky Derby prep races that began last September.
The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, April 26. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
Journalism will enter the Kentucky Derby off a victory in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5. He currently ranks third on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 122.5.
Color: Bay.
Bred in: Kentucky.
Sire: Curlin.
Dam: Mopotism, by Uncle Mo.
Price tag: $825,000 at 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale.
Owners: Bridlewood Farm (John and Leslie Malone); Don Alberto Stable (Liliana Solari Falabella and sons; Andrea and Carlos Heller); Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (Aron Wellman); Elayne Stables 5 LLC; Robert LaPenta. Bridlewood, Eclipse and LaPenta teamed with Tapwrit (sixth) in 2017. Don Alberto Stable finished third with Battle of Midway in 2017. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners is 0 for 4 in the Derby, its best finish coming with Danza (third) in 2014. First Derby for Elayne Stables. LaPenta is 0 for 10 in the Derby, his best finish coming with Ice Box (second) in 2010.
Trainer: Michael McCarthy. He's 0 for 1 in the Derby, finishing ninth with Endlessly in 2024.
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli. He's 0 for 2 in the Derby, best finish coming with Endlessly (ninth) in 2024.
Record: 4-0-1 in five starts.
Career earnings: $638,880.
Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 122.5 (No. 3).
Last race: Won Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5 by three-quarters of a length over Baeza.
Running style: Stalker.
Notes: Enters the Kentucky Derby with a four-race winning streak — including three graded stakes — and is expected to be the morning-line favorite. … McCarthy made his Kentucky Derby debut last year but famously didn't want to enter Endlessly, who had never raced on dirt. He was overruled by the horse's owner, and Endlessly finished ninth. … Wellman explained the horse's name in a story by John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times. 'We believe that good horses should have good names,' said Wellman, a former sports editor of the Beverly Hills High School newspaper. 'We've historically followed the Claiborne Farm way of naming horses, which tries to tie the name to the pedigree. He's out of a mare called Mopotism, so we thought ending in an 'ism' was a way to go. So, we came up with Journalism. I've always been a huge fan of journalists and journalism.'
What they're saying: 'That's such a good animal to be able to get out of there,' Rispoli said of the trouble Journalism encountered during the Santa Anita Derby. 'It's rare for a horse to get held up at the three-eighths pole and to get back in the race in that way. It's always difficult, especially for such a big horse. But he has such an amazing style and is just an amazing horse.'
Last May, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032.
The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and additional NBCU platforms.
You can stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock.
Post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
More horse racing: Which horses are in or on bubble for May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs?
This story was updated to add a gallery.
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