Journalism upsets Barnes, reframes Derby picture in San Felipe

Mar 01, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Going into Saturday’s $300,000 San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita, the discussion revolved around early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Barnes. But Journalism changed the narrative in deep stretch, blowing past Barnes to win going away and reframing the Derby picture.

The hitherto undefeated Barnes, the 2-5 favorite, was racing beyond a sprint distance for the first time in the San Felipe. Journalism, in contrast, had already excelled over a route of ground, and the 3.10-1 second choice packed a much stronger punch late.

As a son of Hall of Famer Curlin, Journalism should be even better as the distances increase. Barnes ran well as the clear second by 9 1/2 lengths, and he can draw hope from his pedigree too. But he’ll need to improve from this experience to boost his Kentucky Derby claims.

The San Felipe was the centerpiece of a banner day for trainer Michael McCarthy and jockey Umberto Rispoli, who later teamed up to win the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) with Formidable Man. McCarthy himself scored a graded treble kicked off by Liguria in the Buena Vista (G2). Moreover, Journalism is co-owned by Eclipse Thoroughbreds, also the co-owner of Saturday’s Santa Anita H. (G1) romper Locked.

Journalism had not raced since his convincing victory in the Dec. 14 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), where he ran away from the Bob Baffert duo of Getaway Car and Gaming. That turned out to be a foreshadowing of the San Felipe, only this time Journalism was dispatching new high-profile rivals from the Baffert barn.

Barnes, named after Baffert’s longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes, has been highly regarded ever since he sold for $3.2 million as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga. By perennial leading sire Into Mischief and out of a mare by Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, Barnes scraped home in a Churchill Downs maiden before winning the San Vicente (G2) impressively.

Bettors forecast that Barnes would stretch out successfully in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe, his first appearance in a Road to the Kentucky Derby scoring race. For much of the way, the hot favorite was indeed in control.

After dashing to the front through an opening quarter in :23.71, Barnes received token pressure from stablemate Rodriguez by the half-mile mark in :47.31. But Barnes put Rodriguez away passing six furlongs in 1:11.10, and he swung into the stretch full of momentum.

Meanwhile, Journalism, who had been poised just off the pace, was beginning to wind up. Angled to the outside and setting his sights on Barnes, the bay reeled in the longtime leader with ground-devouring strides. The winning margin was 1 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:42.24.

“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Rispoli recapped. “Once I took him out and pressed the button, he put on the beast mode. He ran really strong.”

Barnes’s rider, Juan Hernandez, tipped his cap to Journalism while noting that his colt wasn’t exactly stopping.

“He was driving really well,” Hernandez said of Barnes. “He was comfortable and doing really well. Honestly, we just got beat by a great horse today. This is his first time going two turns, and I think he ran great even after Journalism ran past me.”

Journalism is on the Road to the #KyDerby! pic.twitter.com/3NyKoIEe9o

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) March 1, 2025

Because the San Felipe field was reduced to five following the scratch of Berlin Wall, its Derby points were trimmed to 75% of the original format. Journalism’s score was accordingly worth 37.5 points (instead of 50), and he now has 47.5 in all.

Barnes banked 18.75 points for his runner-up effort. Rodriguez faded to a distant third (11.25), increasing his tally to 21.25. Mellencamp, the outsider of the Baffert trio, took fourth (7.5 points) for a total of 8.5. Smooth Cruisein was allotted 3.75 points as the trailer of the quintet.

Journalism’s resume now reads 4-3-0-1, $338,880. His lone loss came in his six-furlong debut at Santa Anita. The winner and second in that Oct. 27 maiden were Smooth Cruisein and Mellencamp, underscoring how added ground and maturity can make a world of difference for a young prospect.

Journalism has been unbeatable since stepping up in trip. He rolled next time out going a mile at Del Mar, progressed again in the Los Alamitos Futurity, and picked up right where he left off in the San Felipe.

Bred by Don Alberto Corp. in Kentucky, Journalism was sold for $825,000 to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners as a Saratoga yearling. His ownership group expanded, and his breeder retained an interest as well. Thus Journalism races for Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse, Elayne Stables 5, and Robert V. LaPenta.

Journalism’s dam (mother), Mopotism, is a Grade 2-winning daughter of champion and influential sire Uncle Mo. She was on the 2017 Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail, ultimately finishing 10th at Churchill Downs, but she remained a graded stakes competitor through the age of five.

With the longevity of both Curlin and Mopotism in his corner, Journalism’s story is just beginning.

“I was fairly confident today,” McCarthy said. “I wouldn’t say I was overly confident, but I thought he was doing well enough to make some noise today.

“It is a little overwhelming to think of where this horse could go.”