Latest news with #CleverAgain
CNBC
18-05-2025
- Sport
- CNBC
In comeback, Journalism wins 150th Preakness Stakes
Two weeks after entering the Kentucky Derby as the favorite only to finish second, Journalism appeared beaten again entering the final straightaway at Saturday's Preakness Stakes, the middle leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. Once trailing by as many as five lengths, Journalism was still far behind Gosger at the top of the homestretch as it squeezed between Clever Again and Goal Oriented — the horses so close they and their jockeys rubbed together — before finally finding open ground. From there, with jockey Umberto Rispoli urging him on, Journalism ran down Gosger at the post, needing all of the course's 1 3/16th miles to author a stunning comeback victory at the 150th Preakness at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course. It was the second Preakness victory for Journalism's trainer, Michael W. McCarthy, who previously won in 2021 with Rombauer. As the gap between the leader and Journalism widened, McCarthy said he was resigned to a loss. "My initial thought was, 'Proud of the horse,'" McCarthy said. "'Great effort, just gonna come up a little bit short.'" Except, the race was far from over. Gosger finished second, with Sandman third. "The horse is a champion," Aron Wellman, a co-owner of Journalism, said on NBC in the winner's circle. "Our jockey Umberto Rispoli is a champion. Our trainer Michael McCarthy is a champion." Rispoli became the first jockey from Italy to win a Triple Crown race. "I wish everybody over there are proud of me," Rispoli said. Journalism outlasted eight other competitors, a small field that did not include Derby winner Sovereignty, after trainer Bill Mott withdrew the horse due to the short turnaround between races. It marked the third time in the last four years that the Derby winner skipped the Preakness. The Triple Crown, Mott said earlier this month, is "not something we're not going to think about." It was the fifth time in the last seven years that the Preakness started without a true shot at the Triple Crown, a trend that has sparked a debate about whether the two-week turnaround between Triple Crown races has become antiquated. The field of nine horses was still anticipated as the trainers — including Bob Baffert and his record eight Preakness victories, and D. Wayne Lukas, who has won seven times at Pimlico over 44 years — had amassed a combined 19 previous Preakness victories. Journalism was still considered the favorite following the Derby and opened with 8-5 odds Saturday morning. By race time, it had become an even bigger favorite at 6-5. Yet its path to victory was made difficult only a quarter of a mile in Saturday, as Clever Again led entering the first turn, followed closely by Gosger and River Thames, with Journalism sixth. Both Rispoli, the jockey, and McCarthy, the trainer, said in post-race interviews they believed their horse was in trouble and might run hard, only to come in second, as at the Derby. Yet Journalism was in first at the end, right on deadline.
Toronto Star
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Rispoli's wild ride aboard Journalism makes him the first Italian jockey to win a Triple Crown race
BALTIMORE (AP) — Umberto Rispoli took quite a path to make history. Rispoli became the first jockey from Italy to win a Triple Crown race Saturday, squeezing between horses around the top of the stretch and then riding Journalism to a tremendous rally in the stretch run of the Preakness. Rispoli's colt was the even-money favorite, but this was no easy trip. He kept Journalism near the rail, which saved ground but forced him to slip between Goal Oriented and Clever Again — with no shortage of contact — before he could even begin making a run at 15-1 shot Gosger. 'I got in trouble at the quarter pole and, look, he make himself keep going,' said Rispoli, who came over from Italy in 2020. 'It's all about him. It's a privilege to ride a horse like him.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Journalism's win brought to mind Afleet Alex's victory in this same race 20 years ago, when the horse and jockey Jeremy Rose nearly went down when they were cut off by another horse at the top of the stretch. Journalism's anxious moment was around the same spot at Pimlico, and although he didn't stumble the way Afleet Alex did, he had to deal with horses on both sides of him. 'Jeremy Rose almost fell off from the horse. That was for me probably the most spectacular Preakness that I ever see,' Rispoli said. 'But even what we saw today. This horse, coming back after two weeks from a tough trip in the (Kentucky) Derby ... it was an amazing effort. I wish I would have give him a softer race, but this is a part of horse racing.' After working his way through traffic, there was still the matter of catching Gosger. 'At the 16th pole, I say OK, I think I'm going to be late but probably on time,' Rispoli said. With one final surge, Journalism pulled ahead and won by a half-length. 'When I cross the line, it's all 20 years of my career that pass in front of me,' Rispoli said. 'I had to wait so long to ride a champion like that.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Journalism acquitted himself well in finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, and when Derby winner Sovereignty skipped the Preakness, Journalism was the clear favorite. He would have to win from behind, though. Rispoli credited Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey with the advice to save ground in this race. 'Umberto, all credit to him, he chose to save ground. That's what it takes to win these races like this,' trainer Michael McCarthy said. 'Obviously found himself in a little bit of a conundrum there for six or eight jumps. Thankful that he and the horse came out of it unscathed. That's the most important thing, win, lose or draw.' When Rispoli was asked about being the first jockey from Italy with a Triple Crown win, there were shouts of 'Viva Italia!' before he answered. He said his idol was top Italian jockey Frankie Dettori, who was expected to retire at the end of 2023 but continued racing. 'I think you have to ride a couple of more years to get one of the winners of the Triple Crown to equal me,' Rispoli said. 'It's even difficult to describe the feeling when you cross the wire in those races. You just dream about that.' ___ AP horse racing:
San Francisco Chronicle
18-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rispoli's wild ride aboard Journalism makes him the first Italian jockey to win a Triple Crown race
BALTIMORE (AP) — Umberto Rispoli took quite a path to make history. Rispoli became the first jockey from Italy to win a Triple Crown race Saturday, squeezing between horses around the top of the stretch and then riding Journalism to a tremendous rally in the stretch run of the Preakness. Rispoli's colt was the even-money favorite, but this was no easy trip. He kept Journalism near the rail, which saved ground but forced him to slip between Goal Oriented and Clever Again — with no shortage of contact — before he could even begin making a run at 15-1 shot Gosger. 'I got in trouble at the quarter pole and, look, he make himself keep going,' said Rispoli, who came over from Italy in 2020. 'It's all about him. It's a privilege to ride a horse like him.' Journalism's win brought to mind Afleet Alex's victory in this same race 20 years ago, when the horse and jockey Jeremy Rose nearly went down when they were cut off by another horse at the top of the stretch. Journalism's anxious moment was around the same spot at Pimlico, and although he didn't stumble the way Afleet Alex did, he had to deal with horses on both sides of him. 'Jeremy Rose almost fell off from the horse. That was for me probably the most spectacular Preakness that I ever see," Rispoli said. 'But even what we saw today. This horse, coming back after two weeks from a tough trip in the (Kentucky) Derby ... it was an amazing effort. I wish I would have give him a softer race, but this is a part of horse racing.' After working his way through traffic, there was still the matter of catching Gosger. 'At the 16th pole, I say OK, I think I'm going to be late but probably on time,' Rispoli said. With one final surge, Journalism pulled ahead and won by a half-length. 'When I cross the line, it's all 20 years of my career that pass in front of me,' Rispoli said. 'I had to wait so long to ride a champion like that.' Journalism acquitted himself well in finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, and when Derby winner Sovereignty skipped the Preakness, Journalism was the clear favorite. He would have to win from behind, though. Rispoli credited Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey with the advice to save ground in this race. 'Umberto, all credit to him, he chose to save ground. That's what it takes to win these races like this,' trainer Michael McCarthy said. 'Obviously found himself in a little bit of a conundrum there for six or eight jumps. Thankful that he and the horse came out of it unscathed. That's the most important thing, win, lose or draw.' When Rispoli was asked about being the first jockey from Italy with a Triple Crown win, there were shouts of 'Viva Italia!' before he answered. He said his idol was top Italian jockey Frankie Dettori, who was expected to retire at the end of 2023 but continued racing. 'I think you have to ride a couple of more years to get one of the winners of the Triple Crown to equal me,' Rispoli said. 'It's even difficult to describe the feeling when you cross the wire in those races. You just dream about that.'
Fox Sports
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Rispoli's wild ride aboard Journalism makes him the first Italian jockey to win a Triple Crown race
Associated Press BALTIMORE (AP) — Umberto Rispoli took quite a path to make history. Rispoli became the first jockey from Italy to win a Triple Crown race Saturday, squeezing between horses around the top of the stretch and then riding Journalism to a tremendous rally in the stretch run of the Preakness. Rispoli's colt was the even-money favorite, but this was no easy trip. He kept Journalism near the rail, which saved ground but forced him to slip between Goal Oriented and Clever Again — with no shortage of contact — before he could even begin making a run at 15-1 shot Gosger. 'I got in trouble at the quarter pole and, look, he make himself keep going,' said Rispoli, who came over from Italy in 2020. 'It's all about him. It's a privilege to ride a horse like him.' Journalism's win brought to mind Afleet Alex's victory in this same race 20 years ago, when the horse and jockey Jeremy Rose nearly went down when they were cut off by another horse at the top of the stretch. Journalism's anxious moment was around the same spot at Pimlico, and although he didn't stumble the way Afleet Alex did, he had to deal with horses on both sides of him. 'Jeremy Rose almost fell off from the horse. That was for me probably the most spectacular Preakness that I ever see," Rispoli said. 'But even what we saw today. This horse, coming back after two weeks from a tough trip in the (Kentucky) Derby ... it was an amazing effort. I wish I would have give him a softer race, but this is a part of horse racing.' After working his way through traffic, there was still the matter of catching Gosger. 'At the 16th pole, I say OK, I think I'm going to be late but probably on time,' Rispoli said. With one final surge, Journalism pulled ahead and won by a half-length. 'When I cross the line, it's all 20 years of my career that pass in front of me,' Rispoli said. 'I had to wait so long to ride a champion like that.' Journalism acquitted himself well in finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, and when Derby winner Sovereignty skipped the Preakness, Journalism was the clear favorite. He would have to win from behind, though. Rispoli credited Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey with the advice to save ground in this race. 'Umberto, all credit to him, he chose to save ground. That's what it takes to win these races like this,' trainer Michael McCarthy said. 'Obviously found himself in a little bit of a conundrum there for six or eight jumps. Thankful that he and the horse came out of it unscathed. That's the most important thing, win, lose or draw.' When Rispoli was asked about being the first jockey from Italy with a Triple Crown win, there were shouts of 'Viva Italia!' before he answered. He said his idol was top Italian jockey Frankie Dettori, who was expected to retire at the end of 2023 but continued racing. 'I think you have to ride a couple of more years to get one of the winners of the Triple Crown to equal me,' Rispoli said. 'It's even difficult to describe the feeling when you cross the wire in those races. You just dream about that.' ___ AP horse racing:
Mint
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Rispolis wild ride aboard Journalism makes him the first Italian jockey to win a Triple Crown race
BALTIMORE (AP) — Umberto Rispoli took quite a path to make history. Rispoli became the first jockey from Italy to win a Triple Crown race Saturday, squeezing between horses around the top of the stretch and then riding Journalism to a tremendous rally in the stretch run of the Preakness. Rispoli's colt was the even-money favorite, but this was no easy trip. He kept Journalism near the rail, which saved ground but forced him to slip between Goal Oriented and Clever Again — with no shortage of contact — before he could even begin making a run at 15-1 shot Gosger. 'I got in trouble at the quarter pole and, look, he make himself keep going,' said Rispoli, who came over from Italy in 2020. 'It's all about him. It's a privilege to ride a horse like him.' Journalism's win brought to mind Afleet Alex's victory in this same race 20 years ago, when the horse and jockey Jeremy Rose nearly went down when they were cut off by another horse at the top of the stretch. Journalism's anxious moment was around the same spot at Pimlico, and although he didn't stumble the way Afleet Alex did, he had to deal with horses on both sides of him. 'Jeremy Rose almost fell off from the horse. That was for me probably the most spectacular Preakness that I ever see," Rispoli said. 'But even what we saw today. This horse, coming back after two weeks from a tough trip in the (Kentucky) Derby ... it was an amazing effort. I wish I would have give him a softer race, but this is a part of horse racing.' After working his way through traffic, there was still the matter of catching Gosger. 'At the 16th pole, I say OK, I think I'm going to be late but probably on time,' Rispoli said. With one final surge, Journalism pulled ahead and won by a half-length. 'When I cross the line, it's all 20 years of my career that pass in front of me,' Rispoli said. 'I had to wait so long to ride a champion like that.' Journalism acquitted himself well in finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, and when Derby winner Sovereignty skipped the Preakness, Journalism was the clear favorite. He would have to win from behind, though. Rispoli credited Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey with the advice to save ground in this race. 'Umberto, all credit to him, he chose to save ground. That's what it takes to win these races like this,' trainer Michael McCarthy said. 'Obviously found himself in a little bit of a conundrum there for six or eight jumps. Thankful that he and the horse came out of it unscathed. That's the most important thing, win, lose or draw.' When Rispoli was asked about being the first jockey from Italy with a Triple Crown win, there were shouts of 'Viva Italia!' before he answered. He said his idol was top Italian jockey Frankie Dettori, who was expected to retire at the end of 2023 but continued racing. 'I think you have to ride a couple of more years to get one of the winners of the Triple Crown to equal me,' Rispoli said. 'It's even difficult to describe the feeling when you cross the wire in those races. You just dream about that.'
