Welcome to the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Journalism. Showcasing the same stalk-and-pounce ability that earned him a maiden win going just a 1/16 of a mile shorter last month, Journalism (Curlin) employed the same tactics Saturday night to upset a trio of Bob Baffert runners and take the GII Los Alamitos Futurity for Michael McCarthy and earn himself 10 points toward the first Saturday in May.
The least experienced runner in the field by starts made (tied with 26-1 longshot Mellencamp {Constitution} who exited the same debut race), the son of GSW and MGISP Mopotism didn't run until Oct. 27 when he placed third going six furlongs at Santa Anita. Stretched out to the mile at Del Mar, he reeled in late leader Rank (Honor A. P.) who also returned for the re-match in the Futurity Saturday still a maiden for Doug O'Neill. Supplemented into this field to run against the second and fourth-place finishes from last month's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Journalism had to contend first and foremost with Gaming (Game Winner), the runner up to stablemate Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) at Del Mar and the 1-2 favorite along with 7-2 third choice in GISP Getaway Car (Curlin).
The top three in the wagering made all the running early as the field of five quickly sorted themselves out past the wire for the first time with Juan Hernandez letting Getaway Car go up front. From his outside post, Journalism settled back and enjoyed the view as Gaming and jockey Flavien Prat (still looking for that elusive stakes record win) stayed pinned in along the fence. Even as the quintet stayed relatively grouped together through opening fractions of :23.93 and :47,75, it was the clear the race was always going to be between the top three as Gaming stormed through a gap into the far turn to take a first crack at his stablemate. The pacesetter shook off the challenge and clung to command but now had threats on both sides as Journalism kicked on from the outside. Off the far turn three across for the lead, Getaway Car was determined in the five path but ultimately no match inside the final sixteenth for Journalism's late kick which brought him home a clear leader ahead of a strung-out field. Getaway Car turned the tables on Gaming while hanging onto second and relegating his stablemate to third.
“I thought it was great,” said McCarthy. “Umberto (Rispoli) bounced out of there and put him in the game early. He found himself a little wide on the first turn, but he was always cruising up the backside. Around the three-eighths pole Umberto was asking him to pick it up and he was kind of slowly getting there. You could see it took him a bit to get his feet underneath him, but once he leveled off in the lane he was very good.”
Of the decision to supplement the horse for $7,500 into the race, McCarthy added: “It was either something like this or the GII San Vicente at seven furlongs (Jan. 4 at Santa Anita). We gave this horse every opportunity not to run today, but he had two wonderful works and he was very cool and composed in the paddock. He's picking things up fast.”
Rispoli added: “He broke very well and was nice and relaxed outside the leader (Getaway Car). I started to wind him up on the turn. He's so smart and changed leads perfectly and then gave me a real nice finish”
Pedigree Note:
The Uncle Mo mare Mopotism, who sold for $1,050,000 to Don Alberto Corp out of FTKNOV in 2019 after earning nearly $900,000 on the track, has now produced a graded stakes winner from her very first foal. Journalism was a hit in the sales ring too, selling for $825,000 to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners at FTSAUG last year though that sales number has now been eclipsed by his yearling Tapit half-brother who lit up the ring to the tune of $1.5m at the same sale to the Flying Dutchman earlier this year. The family received another timely update when Mopotism's full-sister Ruth put in an impressive winning debut effort at Gulfstream Friday for Todd Pletcher and owner/breeder Frank Batten who purchased second dam Peppy Rafaela for just $100,000 at KEEJAN in 2014. Journalism is the 64th individual graded/group winner for Hill 'n' Dale's top sire Curlin. Mopotism reported an Into Mischief filly this year and visited both Flightline and Tapit for a 2025 foal.
Saturday, Los Alamitos
LOS ALAMITOS FUTURITY-GII, $200,000, Los Alamitos, 12-14, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.04, ft.
1–JOURNALISM, 120, c, 2, by Curlin
1st Dam: Mopotism (GSW & MGISP, $876,090), by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Peppy Rafaela, by Bernardini
3rd Dam: Peppy Lapeau, by French Deputy
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($825,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). O-Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and Robert V. LaPenta; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Michael McCarthy; J-Umberto Rispoli. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $158,880. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Getaway Car, 120, c, 2, Curlin–Surrender Now, by Morning Line. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($300,000 Wlg '22 KEENOV; $700,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Blue Heaven Farm & Curlin Syndicate (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $40,000.
3–Gaming, 120, c, 2, Game Winner–So Stylish, by Johannesburg. ($40,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $250,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). O-Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman; B-Mt. Brilliant Farm & Ranch, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $24,000.
Margins: 3HF, 3, 6. Odds: 2.80, 3.70, 0.50.
Also Ran: Rank, Mellencamp.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
JOURNALISM ($7.60) set out to make headlines in the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). The two-year-old son of Curlin was ridden by @umbyrispoli for trainer @mwmracing.
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