 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
The striking son of Curlin, Journalism, heads to Saturday's US$2 million Preakness Stakes as the firm favourite, having emerged from a gallant Kentucky Derby second in excellent condition. For Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners founder Aron Wellman, the decision to target the middle jewel of America's Triple Crown came after meticulous post-Derby assessment.
"It's become a little bit more unconventional for horses that don't win the Kentucky Derby to run back in the Preakness," Wellman explains, "but we always had the Preakness in the back of our minds if he cooperated and showed us the right signs."
That cooperation was evident almost immediately. "We gave him a few easy days walking around the barn after the Derby, then two jog days, and after the first or second jog day, he was ready to do more, which was a great sign," Wellman says.
"His appetite has been strong all along. His attitude has been good. As soon as we picked up his workload to the gallop on Thursday and started to ask a little bit more of him, he was extremely responsive and wanting to do more. Those were all really positive signs that he had emerged from the Kentucky Derby in good order."
The decision came when trainer Michael McCarthy returned from California. "Michael went over him with a fine-tooth comb at the barn. His groom, Rolando, and his exercise rider Marc have been ecstatic with him in the stall, out of the stall, on the racetrack. So, all of those variables came into play."
Journalism's sire provides a tantalising historical parallel. "We're really hoping that history repeats itself," Wellman says. "Curlin was third in the Kentucky Derby and came back two weeks later and beat Street Sense in the Preakness. It was a knockdown, dragging out battle between them. Street Sense took the lead inside the eighth pole, and Curlin came back and beat him."
Curlin's subsequent career inspires further hope. "Curlin ran in all three classics and then went on to win the Breeders' Cup Classic and was named Horse of the Year as a 3YO. Those are extremely lofty expectations. We don't want to try to have Journalism fill his father's shoes. However, maybe he is the heir apparent."
Journalism's tactical speed should serve him well from his inside draw. "He's powerful from the gate," Wellman notes. "In a few of his earlier races, we probably could have made the lead in the Los Alamitos Futurity, maybe even the San Felipe, because he broke so sharp. But we really wanted to teach him how to rate, take dirt and finish. Stamina has never been a question—he's got a good three-eighths of a mile plus kick."
The Preakness game plan is straightforward. "Umberto Rispoli, who knows this horse like the back of his hand, is going to leave there with purpose from the gate, try to establish good early position. We want to force the other speed to utilise some energy going into the first turn, maybe take a little of the starch out of them and then get Journalism into a nice cruising rhythm. He's a big, long-striding colt that likes to extend his stride."
After the troubled Derby trip, Wellman hopes for a cleaner journey. "Hopefully, it's a neater trip than in the Kentucky Derby, he's able to save some ground going into the first turn, and then gradually get into his rhythm up the back side, hopefully in the clear."
 |  |
With the rain forecast for Saturday, Wellman remains confident. "He handled it very well in the Kentucky Derby. Umberto Rispoli said that he took the slop in his face very well and made a big, bold, sustained move from the half mile pole all the way to the wire. The condition is not all that much of a concern, it's a variable that he's dealt with now, whereas it was a bit of a surprise to him prior to the Kentucky Derby.
Asked about long-term plans, Wellman emphasises their focus remains squarely on Saturday. "Our big-time goal this year was the Kentucky Derby and the classics. Right now, we're just focused on the task at hand, which is to make Journalism a classic winner. We're not looking any further beyond the Preakness."
"It's an honour to be represented by such a magnificent individual in Journalism and our ownership group," he continues. "We're not taking anything for granted. We want to make sure that we get him there as best as we can, and that he performs to the best of his ability."
Among the most meaningful aspects of Journalism's campaign has been sharing it with trainer Michael McCarthy, a relationship dating back decades.
"Michael and I have known each other probably the better part of three decades, going back to my teenage years," Wellman reveals. "Both predominantly grew up in Southern California around the racetrack. We knew each other from being track rats as youngsters, going down to the paddock and checking horses out to see how they looked, trying to find a horse to bet on."
Their professional partnership began when Wellman worked at Team Valor and McCarthy was assistant to Todd Pletcher. Later, when McCarthy started his own stable, "Eclipse was the first operation to give Michael horses to train, and it's been a magnificent run for the better part of the last decade plus. We've had numerous Grade One winners, incredible wins, and a great strike rate of success."
"To be on this journey with Journalism, the McCarthy family, Eclipse, the Wellmans and everybody associated with the horse has just been really meaningful and special," Wellman reflects. "And I'm hoping that for Michael and the horse that they get their just due on Saturday with a classic win."
What makes Journalism's success particularly special is that Eclipse operates primarily with fillies. "We're really not a stable that focuses predominantly on colts. We really are primarily a filly-based operation, but we do dabble with the colts on a lower scale," Wellman explains. "To have, from a small sample, an individual like Journalism carrying our colours is just phenomenal."
The ownership group behind Journalism reflects Eclipse's collaborative model. "For starters, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners is a syndicate. We as a company go out and we purchase horses in principle, and then we form partnerships underneath the Eclipse umbrella, whereby partners come from all over the country and all over the world."
Their strategic partners include "Bridlewood Farm, owned by John and Leslie Malone, run by George Isaacs. We've been partners with them going back to 2017 when we won the Belmont Stakes with Tapwrit. Bob LaPenta was part of that partnership as well. When we bought Journalism at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, we put the band back together."
Adding prestige is the involvement of Coolmore. "To have Coolmore acquire his stallion rights prior to this year's Santa Anita Derby is the ultimate honour, the ultimate endorsement to have an operation like having faith in our program and our ability to manage Journalism's racing career."
“The breeders, Don Alberto Corporation also retained an interest in his ownership and has been a part of the wonderful ownership group since the beginning.” Wellman asserts.
Eclipse has claimed landmark victories including the Belmont Stakes with Tapwrit, Breeders' Cup triumphs with Sharing and Aloha West, and international successes, but for Wellman, nothing compares to classic opportunities.
"The interest in classic horses is unmatched, and having such a prominent individual like Journalism representing Eclipse and taking our partners on this ride is magical," Wellman says. "We came so close to winning the Kentucky Derby with the favourite. If all goes well, Journalism will be the favourite in the Preakness, and I just want so badly for the horse, Michael and our partners to get that trophy on his mantelpiece."