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 Umberto Rispoli celebrates aboard Journalism after winning the 2025 Preakness | |
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The $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) is the second jewel in the Triple Crown. After the connections of Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty opted to rest him until the Belmont, a field of 8 three-year-olds contested the 150th renewal of this 1 3/16 mile classic around two turns, the final edition run in front of the aging grandstand at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore before it is demolished and rebuilt. Conditions were typical for mid May, with overcast skies, a fast main track, and a post time temperature of 89.
As expected Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Journalism was sent off as the even-money favorite off his second place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1). In to challenge him included 5-1 second choice Clever Again, winner of the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park, and 13-2 third choice Sandman, 7th in the Kentucky Derby after winning the Arkansas Derby (G1).
 Journalism runs down Gosger in deep stretch. |
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 2 Journalism Rispoli 4.00 2.80 2.40 9 Gosger Saez 9.00 5.40 7 Sandman Velazquez 3.60 Winning Time: 1:55.47 $1 Exacta 2-9 16.90 $1 Trifecta 2-9-7 73.50 $1 Superfecta 2-9-7-1 303.40 $1 Super High Five 2-9-7-1-4 1,767.30 $2 BES-Preakness Double 3-2 73.50 |
Left: Journalism heads to the winner's circle with his flower blanket. Winning trainer Mike McCarthy said, "I think when we got beat a couple of weeks ago in the Kentucky Derby, I was upset. But it wasn't the end of the world. We re-rallied and things were good today. When I saw that (mid-stretch bumping), I thought it was another solid effort and, unfortunately, he was going to come up just a little bit short. For sure he got the worst of it. Hats off to Umberto and Journalism for persevering. I think today you saw what it takes to be a champion. Today was his day. He had been telling us all along he was sort of ready for an effort like that."
Right: The trophy celebration. Winning jockey Umberto Rispoli said, "I still can't realize what this horse did today. I got in trouble at the quarter pole and, look, he make himself keep going. It's all about him. It's a privilege to ride a horse like him. It's just unbelievable. I won one of the legs of the Triple Crown and I'm crying like a kid. When I cross the line, it's all 20 years of my career that pass I front of me. I had to wait so long to ride a champion like that."
Jockey Mike McCarthy, jockey Umberto Rispoli, and owners Aron Wellman and Robert LaPenta celebrate with the trophy. Winning co-owner Aron Wellman said, "It always starts with the horse first. I just think that this victory symbolizes so much about life. It took guts for Michael McCarthy to make this call to come here. It took guts for Umberto Rispoli to get sideswiped and threading the needle and power on through and it took guts from an incredible horse to somehow will his way to victory."
Right: Umberto Rispoli and Journalism parade before heading to the winner's circle. Rispoli added, "Well, going on the backside, passing -- he wasn't traveling like he did travel in the Derby, and at that point you think two things: You have no horse or just too relaxed. I think the second was the option, because as soon as I gave a smack on the shoulder he said, okay, I know what I got to do. At that point, I was trying to go outside and follow River Thames but I had been suggested from some top world class riders, some Hall of Fame riders United States, you win this race saving ground, and I would say thank you to Jerry Bailey for the big tips."
Journalism heads back to the barn. Winning jockey Umberto Rispoli said, "Going to the elbow, a little gap was opened and I say, it's now or never. So it's horse racing. It's a nice battle for the sport. Everybody come out safe. I'm sorry about Jose (Ortiz on Clever Again), and I had to give a shout to Flavien (Prat on Goal Oriented) right away. From that standpoint from where I was when I looked up, Luis opened up four lanes ahead of me, and the first time I use the crop on him, he switch his lead and, boom, he took off."
Right: Journalism walks over before the race. Co-owner Robert LaPenta said, "This was a tough couple of weeks. We thought we had the best horse in the Derby and we did. A number of people text me and the consensus, remaining nameless was, hey, you guys took almost two weeks to decide you wanted to run this horse, so obviously there was a lot of concern. We upset all the apple carts. They said he doesn't deserve to be 6-5. A lot of people picked him for third, and I said, thank God."
Left: Journalism in the post parade. Asked about winning the final Preakness at the old Pimlico, McCarthy said, "It's a little bit strange. I actually won the last El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. Not sure if there's a pattern there or not. A lot of history here. Of all the good horses who have run through the lane here, I think one of the things that really got it started for me was Sunday Silence and Easy Goer. I remember where I was watching that race that day. Things kind of come full circle. Will be sad to see this place go, but we'll try to get back here next year, whichever locale it's at."
Right: Journalism with his flower blanket. Rispoli added, "Having Frankie (Dettori) as my idol, you always thought you couldn't do anything Frankie ever done. Zio, if you ever listen to me I think you have to ride a couple more years to get one of the Triple Crown to equal me. I mean, it's a privilege. When I cross the wire, it looks like a flash of 20 years of my career went to my head, and it's even difficult to describe the feeling when you cross the wire on those races. I'm proud of this and for my country (Italy), races don't go very well, but I'm glad I keep my flags up and I wish everybody over there is proud of me."
Left: Umberto Rispoli hugs co-owner Aron Wellman after the race. McCarthy added, "I think it says a lot about him. I think it's basically he has validated what we have thought about him all along. This summer he was getting ready a little bit faster than your average two-year-old. We had to stop on him for some little aches and pains. When things got rolling, he was able to go ahead, annex three races in seven weeks, culminating with the Los Alamitos Futurity. I started thinking something like this. You certainly need the vehicle and we had it with him."
Right: Journalism with the soon to be demolished grandstand behind him. Wellman added, "If this horse is in good shape, we'll certainly keep (Belmont) under consideration but we have two-plus weeks to determine that and we'll take all the time we need. We feel very fortunate to be in the position we're in and if Michael gives him the green light, we'll be there. If not, we've got a hell of a second half of the season to look forward to, so super proud of this horse. He proved that he's a true classic competitor today."
Left: Second place finisher Gosger walks over before the race. Trainer Brendan Walsh said, "I'm disappointed not to win it, but I'm not disappointed in the horse. He ran a great race. He is an improving horse and he will improve off this today. Luis (Saez) got off him and said, ‘this is a helluva horse'. Maybe we will get our turn the next time. I thought we were home when he opened up. Luis said at the end, he just got a little bit lackadaisical, and he was out on his own maybe a little too long and the other horse came by and flew by him. Here is a horse to look forward too, absolutely."
Right: Third place finisher Sandman in the post parade. Jockey John Velazquez said, "We got a good trip, you know, Tried to stay out of trouble as much as I could and then when we got to the quarter pole I thought I was home free but he got to looking around and stopped concentrating. When he was following the horses he was really good, but when I pulled him out to go around and he felt like he was by himself and he didn't even care, but when a horse moved to the inside of us. He engaged a little bit again to the end."
Left: Carrying the trophies and flowers to the infield winner's circle.
Right: The Preakness trophies in the Tiffany decorated winner's circle.
Left: The weather vane atop the cupola in the winner's circle waiting to be painted in the new winner's colors.
Right: Guarding the Preakness trophies in the Tiffany decorated winner's circle.
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