by Journalism Storms to Victory at 150th Preakness Stakes After Derby Runner-Up Finish
After finishing second in the Kentucky Derby earlier this month, Journalism made a strong comeback on Saturday, capturing a thrilling win at the 150th Preakness Stakes held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The race marked the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Entering as the 8-5 favorite, Journalism surged from behind in the final stretch, overtaking Gosger just before the finish line. Gosger settled for second, just a half-length behind, while Sandman placed third and Goal Oriented came in fourth. Journalism completed the 1 3/16-mile race in 1:55.37.
The win marked trainer Michael McCarthy’s second career Preakness victory. It was also a milestone for jockey Umberto Rispoli, earning his first-ever Triple Crown race win and becoming the first Italian jockey to claim such a title.
One notable absence from the race was Sovereignty, the Kentucky Derby winner. Although he skipped the Preakness, he’s expected to race again at the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course in New York, potentially setting up a highly anticipated rematch with Journalism.
This year’s Preakness continued a recent trend—it’s the fifth time in the past seven years that the race has taken place without a Triple Crown bid on the line.
Still, Journalism made a strong case for 3-year-old Horse of the Year, claiming victory in the $2 million classic—the final Preakness to be held at the historic Pimlico track before it’s demolished and rebuilt. The race will temporarily move to Laurel Park—located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.—in 2026, with plans to return to a brand-new Pimlico by 2027.
Saturday’s race took place under sunny skies and dry conditions, a welcome change from the heavy rain that soaked the track earlier in the week. Those drier conditions clearly favored Journalism, who had struggled in the muddy track at Churchill Downs during the Derby.
Journalism is the first horse since War of Will in 2019 to win the Preakness after running in the Kentucky Derby. Only two other Derby contenders returned for the Preakness this year: Sandman, trained by Mark Casse, and American Promise, trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.
