Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism overcomes trouble, continues to star in Santa Anita Derby; Tenma best in Santa Anita Oaks

Apr 05, 2025 James Scully

Journalism winning the 2025 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

After being stopped on the far turn, Journalism rallied boldly to overtake Baeza and win Saturday’s $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) going away by about a length. The imposing son of Curlin will head to Churchill Downs in the coming weeks as a prohibitive favorite for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 3.

Regular rider Umberto Rispoli was up for Michael McCarthy on the even-money favorite, and Journalism extended his win streak to four. After stretching to two turns to break his maiden the second time out, the bay colt followed with a convincing win in December’s Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). He opened his three-year-old campaign with another decisive triumph in the San Felipe (G2) on March 1.

Journalism impressively overcame trouble winning the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby, increasing his point total to 122.5. He was timed in 1:49.56.

Journalism is headed to the Kentucky Derby! 🌹 pic.twitter.com/o2DtYI4wW1

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 6, 2025

Since only five runners went to the starting gate, point values were reduced 25% (75-37.5-18.75-11.25-7.5 basis) in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series major qualifier.

Baeza finds himself on the Kentucky Derby bubble presently, ranking 23rd in points after finishing a commendable second in his stakes debut. A last-out maiden winner and half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont (G1) winner Dornoch, Baeza stalked just off the early leaders before offering a bold bid to take a clear lead in upper stretch and tried to battle back when challenged, grudgingly giving way late while finishing more than eight lengths clear of third.

Westwood, a 44-1 outsider who dueled for the lead with champion two-year-old male Citizen Bull through opening fractions in :22.25 and :47.14, began to give way on the far turn but was able to regain third in deep stretch over Citizen Bull, who had his three-race win streak snapped in a disappointing effort as the 2-1 second choice. Barnes, the 5-2 third choice, kept Journalism in tight quarters on the far turn but had nothing left for the stretch, winding up another 10 lengths back in last.

Campaigned by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables, Robert LaPenta, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor, Journalism is out of the Grade 2-winning mare Mopotism, a daughter of Uncle Mo.

In the $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) earlier on the program, Baoma Corp.’s Tenma confirmed herself as the leading three-year-old filly in California, driving to a 2 1/4-length decision. The Bob Baffert-trained filly registered her third consecutive stakes win, recording convincing tallies in December’s Starlet (G2) and the Las Virgenes (G2) on Feb. 2, and the juvenile Grade 1 scorer sustained her only setback when racing in blinkers last fall.

Now 5-for-6 overall, Tenma left the starting gate as the odds-on favorite with Juan Hernandez and stalked a couple of lengths back of an opening quarter mile in :22.85. Silent Law showed the way through fractions of :46.38 and 1:11.03 before surrendering the lead in upper stretch.

Tenma struck the front but appeared a little rusty following the two-month freshening, edging clear in deep stretch, and the dark bay completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.15.

Tenma is headed to the Kentucky Oaks! 🌸 pic.twitter.com/Ea5AgTBEkO

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 5, 2025

Her numbers won’t be overwhelming, but Tenma remains a classy type who will be a candidate to keep progressing at Churchill Downs for three-time Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Baffert.

As a major qualifier in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, the Santa Anita Oaks awarded points on the same scale as the Santa Anita Derby due to only five participants.

Silent Law held second by six lengths over Vodka With a Twist, the 5-1 second choice following a runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and a third in the Starlet. Madame Secretary came next in fourth, and No Bad Beats was walked off the track after being eased.

Tenma is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Nyquist who was bred by Bobby Flay.