Latest news with #USTripleCrown
New Paper
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Resounding victory for Journalism in Preakness Stakes
BALTIMORE - Pre-race favourite Journalism stormed to victory in the US$2 million (S$2.6 million) 150th Grade 1 Preakness Stakes (1,900m) on May 17, producing a devastating finish to claim the second leg of the US Triple Crown series. Journalism looked set for more disappointment following his second-placed finish to Sovereignty in the first leg, the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby (2,000m) at Churchill Downs on May 3, after being boxed in coming down the stretch at Pimlico racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland. But after clashing with the Bob Baffert-trained 6-1 shot Goal Oriented (Flavien Prat), Journalism - ridden by Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli - burst through a gap and reeled in 20-1 outsider Gosger (Luis Saez) for a sensational win. Gosger and 4-1 shot Sandman (John Velazquez) ran second and third respectively. There was a brief delay as stewards reviewed footage of Journalism's skirmish with Goal Oriented before the Michael McCarthy-trained horse was announced as the victor. Two-time Italian champion jockey Rispoli said he owed the victory to Journalism's "never say die" approach. "I still can't quite comprehend what this horse did today," an emotional Rispoli said. "I got in trouble at the corner pole. But it's all about him - it's a pleasure and a privilege to ride a horse like him. "It's just unbelievable. I won one of the legs in the Triple Crown and I'm crying like a kid." Journalism's triumph also marked a fairy-tale win for California-based trainer McCarthy, who lives in Altadena, one of the Los Angeles communities devastated by deadly wildfires in January. McCarthy said when he saw Journalism seemingly in a hopeless position, boxed in on the rails coming off the final turn, he had feared the worst. "I guess when I saw that, I kind of resigned myself to the fact that it was another fantastic effort and that we were going to come up short," he said. "I couldn't be prouder of him. At the back of my mind, I thought we'd be two for two coming here. But you know what - I'm just happy to get one of these. They're very, very difficult to win." While McCarthy's home survived the wildfires earlier this year, he and his family have been displaced from the property due to smoke damage. "We'll get back there, everybody will get back there, we'll rebuild. This is for Altadena," he added. The third leg will be the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes (2,400m) at Saratoga, New York on June 7. AFP
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
‘Look at the elbows!' Jockeys tangle as Journalism fights back to win Preakness
Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism showed incredible bravery to force his way out of trouble and recover lost ground to win the second leg of the US Triple Crown Two rival jockeys engaged in an incredible elbowing match as they fought out the climax to a dramatic second leg of the US Triple Crown on Saturday night. Journalism, runner-up when favourite for the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, was on a recovery mission in the £1.5 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico racecourse in Baltimore. With Churchill Downs conqueror Sovereignty not in the line up he was hot favourite to get the job done under his Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli. But he was met with a seemingly insurmountable problem when he exited the final bend with five horses in front of him. Instead of going around the field, Rispoli opted to stick on the inside by the rail, but that option appeared to leave him with little room to manoeuvre out and produce his challenge in the straight. Although he initially made ground, rival Flavien Prat was determined to keep him in a pocket, then leaned in on Rispoli, but the Italian held his ground and Journalism forced his way between horses. By the time they got into daylight, they found Gosger had kicked five lengths clear, yet Journalism produced a devastating finishing burst to make up the ground and win by half a length. After a brief stewards inquiry, the result was confirmed. The dramatic incident was analysed by NBC Sports experts Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss. Describing the key moments, Bailey said: 'There are two really important decisions by Umberto Rispoli, first to stay on the rail. 'He has an opportunity right now to go around those horses. He chooses not to take it which puts him in position, not only to save ground, but to get through between. If he goes around, I don't know if he wins. So he runs up inside Goal Oriented right here. 'Flavien Prat on Goal Oriented starts to lay in a little bit on him here. Umberto is having none of it. He's going to hold his ground. They're getting close to Clever Again. Now the elbowing starts and it is a tight hole.' 'Look at the elbows,' Moss said. 'First it was Flavien with the elbow and then Umberto gave as good as he got and then you saw this part of it where Goal Oriented really came over on Journalism, and poor Clever Again down on the rail didn't know what to make of this. What bravery!' The winning jockey said: 'I still can't realise what this horse did today, I got in trouble at the quarter pole and he made himself go again. It's all about him – it's a pleasure to ride a horse like him. I was in a tough spot (at the top of the straight) but it's unbelievable.' British runner Heart Of Honor, trained by Jamie Osborne and ridden by daughter Saffie, finished fifth after a slow start. The trainer said: 'It wasn't looking great halfway. He was sluggish out of the gate again, got a fair amount of sand in his face, looked like it could have been a disaster halfway down the back. 'But God, he's tough, he's resolute. He stayed on great to the line, he passed all but four. Shame the Belmont is not a mile-and-a-half.'
South China Morning Post
06-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Zac Purton ‘excited' about potential world series, but HKJC not keen to play host
Zac Purton hopes the potential formation of a global competition for elite jockeys will bring the sport in front of a new audience and drive the industry forward, however the Hong Kong Jockey Club has confirmed it does not intend to host a leg of the proposed 'world series'. The most successful jockey Hong Kong has seen, Purton is in line to be one of the stars of the global competition, which could also feature the likes of James McDonald, Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and Yutaka Take. Hong Kong-based Vincent Ho Chak-yiu is also on the list alongside Irad Ortiz Jnr, Joao Moreira, William Buick, Christophe Lemaire, Mickael Barzalona and Flavien Prat. Devised by former Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson and ex-Entain Australia deputy chief Lachlan Fitt, the series could have events in the United States, the Middle East, Asia and the United Kingdom, but it's unlikely to be seen in Hong Kong. 'The club is aware of the proposal. It is not our intention to participate as a host of a race meeting,' the Jockey Club said in a statement. It's been touted the series will have a prize pool of US$15 million and jockeys will operate their own franchises as team principals. Whether Purton gets the all-clear to take part as a jockey remains to be seen, but he is excited by the concept nonetheless. 'To be honest, it's probably hit the press a bit sooner than we'd have liked,' said Purton. 'Everything is still in its infancy but it's very exciting – it's a strong list of jockeys from all corners of the world. 'We're going to need the support of the jockey clubs and we'll need to find some sponsors. Ultimately, we're hoping we can help grow and drive the industry while bringing in a new audience. 'For me personally, it's going to be up to the Hong Kong Jockey Club as to whether I can ride in it or not. At the end of the day, I'm contracted to them and whatever decision they come to I'll accept. 'If I can't ride in it, I can still be team principal in it and that puts me in a position where I can choose another jockey to compete. 'I think racing has done a pretty poor job in many respects about promoting the sport and getting a new, younger audience into it. 'I think it will be exciting to be able to be like Formula One and LIV Golf, and take teams around the globe to new locations and build the brand. 'There's still a lot of water to flow under the bridge and some things to iron out, but we're all passionate about it and excited to try and drive it forward and make it happen. I think it's good for the sport but time will tell.' Racing has hit the mainstream again in recent weeks with the new Netflix show Race For The Crown, which is centred around some of the participants of last year's US Triple Crown, proving very popular. Irad Ortiz Jnr, who is touted for the new jockey series, features in the Netflix documentary and Purton thinks something similar could work in Hong Kong. 'I've always thought Hong Kong would be a great place to do a series because we have a set amount of jockeys, trainers, horses and tracks – plus we all live next to the track,' said Purton. 'It would be so easy to get a lot of content, but it hasn't happened until now with this new racing series on Netflix. We'd be able to take some cameras around with us and create a series for TV as we went. 'I know all the jockeys from Asia, Australia and the UK, but I'm not familiar with US racing at all really so it'll be good to meet and get to know Irad. 'It would be good to see all the personalities over there and they've just had the Netflix series come out and I found that really interesting.'
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
I tipped the 1,113-1 Kentucky Derby trifecta last year - here are my three for 2025 race
The historic Kentucky Derby takes place at Churchill Downs on Saturday and there is one tipster who it paid to follow in the first leg of the US Triple Crown in 2024 The tipster who predicted the one-two-three finish to the 2024 Kentucky Derby has announced her picks for this year's race. The Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville before a TV audience of millions. Picking the winner of the first leg of the US Triple Crown series is never easy with the last three winners returning at odds of 186-10, 152-10 and 81-1. Yet one expert managed to find last year's winner Mystik Dan and not only that, picked the next two past the post. In a blanket finish, decided by two noses, Mystik Dan defeated Sierra Leone and Forever Young. Combined they paid a trifecta dividend ot $1,113.84 to a $1 stake. There was no fluke as Kaitlin Free, who is a reporter and analyst based in Kentucky, had given her picks and explained her thinking in an interview with Carlos Morales, host of the hispanic racing channel Agentes305, who shared it in a viral post on X, watched 1.2 million times. Morales tracked Free down again at Churchill Downs to get her latest thoughts on Saturday's big race and she suggested the outcome of this year's race may be a little bit more 'cut and dried' than in 2024. 'My two A's in this race are going to be Journalism and Sovereignty,' she said. 'I think they are everyone's A's. Luxor Cafe is one I have danced around a little bit. 'Journalism is one of the most well-rounded candidates to come into the Kentucky Derby in recent years, kind of a la American Pharoah or California Chrome. I think he really stands out in this race, not necessarily from a physical standpoint but also mentally. 'Everything as far as the hoop-la of the Kentucky Derby, I don't think it's going to bother him whereas it's going to bother some others. 'The pace, he's tactical but he definitely has that late closing kick. I think he is going to be able to get the jump on all the other closers in the race. Umberto Rispoli just has to stay on and keep him out of a lot of trouble. So it's Journalism for me on top.' She continued: 'Sovereignty is a horse that's continued to do well. I didn't mind his run in the Florida Derby. I think it makes his price better. I believe he is third or fourth choice and that's more than fair value. 'He's a horse that's a little bit tough to ride, a little quirky, and I think Junior Alvarado is the perfect fit for him. I think this horse way moves up, getting back under Junior Alvarado. I think that's a difference maker. I really think this horse is the strongest of all the closers in this field. So look for him to be running late at the mile-and-a-quarter. It's definitely going to be his friend. 'At the price I am going to throw in, like I threw in Mystik Dan last year and happened to get lucky, is Chunk Of Gold. Coming in from Turfway Park, that's his base. He ran in Louisiana races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Ethan West said the distance is not going to be a problem for this horse. He is a dirt horse more so than an all-weather type of horse. 'He has a funky action over the all-weather that straightens out a bit in the Kentucky Derby dirt. Jareth Loveberry, like Brian Hernandez Jr, is a ground-saving type of rider. We saw him win it almost on Two Phills with Mage. He is a perfect fit for a horse like Chunk Of Gold who does a remind me a bit of Two Phills. 'He told us coming in off his most recent work on Chunk Of Gold that the gallop out gave him chills.' She added: 'I'm not as high on Luxor Cafe as I was for Forever Young last year but on numbers and figures he is very comparable. If he can bring that form in Japan to here, he is a player too.'
South China Morning Post
02-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Journalism hot favourite at Kentucky Derby as trainer Bob Baffert returns after 3-year ban
Bookie favourite Journalism arrived for the Kentucky Derby on the heels of three consecutive victories. Photo: AP The crown jewel of American horse racing will welcome back the sport's most famous trainer at the Kentucky Derby this year, as Bob Baffert returns from a three-year ban, while heavy favourite Journalism hopes to make some headlines of his own. A Baffert-trained horse will be on the track for the first leg of the esteemed US Triple Crown series on Saturday for the first time since 2021, with Citizen Bull taking the first post position. Baffert scratched his other trainee, Rodriguez, late on Thursday because of a 'small but slightly sensitive' foot bruise, co-owner Tom Ryan said on X in a move that drew Baeza into the field. Churchill Downs banned Baffert for two years when his horse Medina Spirit failed a drugs test after winning the 2021 Kentucky Derby. The horse died of a heart attack months later and his title was subsequently stripped. The track later extended Baffert's suspension until the end of 2024 but reversed course in July, after the trainer took responsibility for the positive drugs test, and lifted his ban. Baffert, a near-ubiquitous figure at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, came back to the track to run colt Barnes in a maiden special weight race in November. But with 17 wins in the famed Triple Crown series, his return for the 1.25-mile (two-kilometre) dirt race was the major news ahead of Saturday's run. 'Came here in November and it was nice, coming into the stable gate everybody was nice to me, welcoming me back, and so it's like I never left. I feel great,' he said. 'When I get the emotions is the day of the derby.' His return has riled animal rights groups, with non-profit Peta demanding increased scrutiny of Baffert's operation after a pair of horses he used to train died in separate incidents in April. Peta has long opposed thoroughbred horse racing. 'Bob Baffert's two dead horses only a month before the Kentucky Derby should be a red flag for Churchill Downs,' Peta senior vice-president Kathy Guillermo said in a statement. 'In addition, the track must account for its own appalling record as dead horses are turning it into a graveyard.' Churchill Downs did not immediately respond to a request for comment. With Citizen Bull's morning line odds at 20-1 as of midweek, Baffert will have his work cut out for him against Journalism, a beautiful bay colt with the biggest buzz among oddsmakers at 3-1. He arrived in Louisville on the heels of three consecutive victories and enjoys an impressive pedigree from sire Curlin, the 2007 Breeders' Cup and Preakness winner. Adding to his advantage, Journalism drew an enviable eighth pole position for Saturday, though trainer Michael McCarthy said he would have been comfortable seeing his horse anywhere from five to 15. 'With a horse like him, he gives you a lot of confidence. Wouldn't have mattered where he was drawn,' said McCarthy, who trained Rombauer to an upset win over Medina Spirit in the Preakness four years ago.
