The last weeks of June will be a quiet period for Journalism, winner of the Preakness Stakes who was second in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes this spring.
Journalism has been galloping on a daily basis at Santa Anita since his second-place finish to Sovereignty in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Saratoga, trainer Michael McCarthy said Sunday.
McCarthy stressed that he and the partnership that own Journalism have not determined race plans for the colt.
“He’s enjoying himself and we’ll figure it out soon,” McCarthy said. “Right now, I don’t know.
“He had five weeks of giving it his all every day and three races as good as a horse can run.”
The options include staying with 3-year-olds in stakes at 1 1/8 miles such as the Grade 1 Haskell on July 19 at Monmouth Park or the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes on July 26 at Saratoga. In California, there are races at Del Mar against older horses such as the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 26 or the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 30 that may be considered.
The only dirt stakes around two turns for 3-year-olds in California for the rest of the summer are Saturday’s $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby at 1 1/8 miles and the $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes at a mile on Aug. 31 at Del Mar.
“It’s a shame that Del Mar doesn’t have a better 3-year-old program,” McCarthy said in reference to the lack of a lucrative stakes on dirt for the division.
Del Mar’s leading race for 3-year-olds at the summer meeting is the Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on turf Aug. 31.
Journalism has won 5 of 8 starts and earned $3,198,880 for the partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Robert LaPenta, Don Alberto Stable, and Elayne Stables 5 LLC.
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