LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It would have been easy for Journalism's connections to make excuses after his second-place finish as the 3-1 favorite in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. After all, not only had Journalism never competed over a wet racetrack prior to the race, he had never even stepped foot on an "off" track at any point in his career before the walkover for the Derby.
But instead, trainer Michael McCarthy, principal owner Aron Wellman, and jockey Umberto Rispoli showed their class and displayed a true touch of sportsmanship. To a man, they declared the best horse had won this day, rather than dwelling on what might have been had Mother Nature not added a formidable wrinkle.
“In California, we’re not allowed to train on an off racetrack," McCarthy explained. "That’s the first time he’s ever seen mud. He didn’t know what it was like. But to be honest, going into the race I was more concerned about getting a clean trip than running over a wet track. For a horse who’d never raced in those conditions, I felt he ran his best race today. I thought we brought the best horse over here. He showed up. He ran his race. These are hard races to win. I can’t say I’m disappointed.”
McCarthy admitted that even though Journalism didn’t have a perfect trip, he pretty much got what he was hoping for: A clean run for the final mile, while certainly being afforded every opportunity to win the race from the top of the stretch to the wire.
“I thought he broke well, it looked like he got into a little interference coming to the eighth pole the first time and was a little farther back than I would have liked going under the wire the first time,” McCarthy said. “Umberto did a wonderful job getting him outside and into the clear up the backside. He started picking up horses nicely from the half-mile pole, gave himself a big chance around the turn with a solid middle move. And then I saw the blue silks [Sovereignty] behind us. [That] was rightfully the horse I thought we had to beat. And in the end we were just second-best on the day.”
Aron Wellman, managing partner of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, echoed McCarthy’s sentiments.
“It’s unfortunate it wasn’t a normal surface out there today, but no excuses, everybody has to run on the same surface,” Wellman said. “It was a little messy going into the first turn, not as smooth as we hoped it could be. But he was able to save ground around the first turn and extract himself down the backside. He was in the clear, he made his run. I think the two best horses were able to look each other in the eye the last three-sixteenth of a mile. Credit to Sovereignty, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, and the whole Godolphin team. I’m very proud of our horse.”
Rispoli, who had guided Journalism to each of his last three victories, including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby four weeks ago, said he could sense Sovereignty closing in on him once turning into the stretch.
“I knew Junior [Alvarado] was right behind me,” Rispoli said. “I think my horse ran an amazing race. The mud probably didn’t help us, maybe on a fast track he [Journalism] wins. But I don’t want to make any excuses. The best horse won today. No doubt.”
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