LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — On Saturday, Journalism triumphed in the $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity, winning by a margin of 3 1/2 lengths. The victory was notable as it came against three competitors trained by the revered Bob Baffert, who was seeking his eighth win in this prestigious Grade 2 race held at the Orange County venue.
With Umberto Rispoli in the saddle, Journalism completed the 1 1/16 miles distance in a time of 1 minute, 43.04 seconds. This 2-year-old colt was added to the race lineup just three days prior, with trainer Michael McCarthy paying a supplementary fee of $7,500.
Starting the race as the 5-2 second choice, Journalism rewarded his backers with a payout of $7.60 for a winning ticket. Due to the presence of only five horses in the field, wagering on place or show was not available. This victory raised Journalism’s career earnings to $158,880, marking a significant milestone for the young colt.
“We made sure to give this horse every chance not to compete today, but following two exceptional workouts, he appeared calm and collected in the paddock,” said McCarthy. “He’s learning quickly.”
During the race, Journalism seized the lead from the front-runner, Getaway Car, as they entered the stretch. Rispoli commented on the horse’s performance, stating, “He started off well and maintained a relaxed demeanor. As we approached the turn, I began to accelerate him. He is incredibly intelligent and transitioned between leads flawlessly, ultimately delivering a strong finish.”
With this win, Journalism accumulated 10 points on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, a crucial factor in selecting the 20-horse field for the prestigious event scheduled for next May.
Getaway Car, considered the third choice at odds of 7-2 and one of Baffert’s three contenders, secured second place. The 1-2 favorite from Baffert’s stable, Gaming, followed in third place, trailing another three lengths behind. This marked the first occasion in four starts that Gaming did not finish in the top two, as he had previously been the runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile just a month earlier.
Baffert’s additional entry, Mellencamp, concluded the race in last position.
