Journalism conquered a really robust Bob Baffert trio within the Grade 2 $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 14 at Los Alamitos, placing the ending touches on a wonderful two weeks, coach Michael McCarthy. McCarthy gained the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby with Formidable Man at Del Mar on Nov. 30, ran second within the Grade 2 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 7 with Look Ahead, after which Journalism demonstrated promise that bodes nicely for his possibilities on the 2025 Triple Crown path.
Beating Baffert in a 2-year-old graded stakes at Los Alamitos this time of 12 months is almost unattainable. Baffert owns the Futurity because it moved to Los Alamitos in 2014, profitable eight of the ten runnings. For the 2024 version, Baffert introduced graded winners Gaming and Getaway Automotive, second and fourth, respectively, within the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile introduced by TAA, in addition to promising maiden Mellencamp.
Gaming was the logical selection and went off because the 1-2 favourite, however bettors did not ignore Journalism’s spectacular maiden rating at Del Mar on Nov. 17, when fellow Futurity entrants Rank and Mellencamp have been among the many vanquished. Journalism was made the 5-2 second selection.
Getaway Automotive, whose pacesetting talents served him nicely when he gained the Grade 3 Finest Pal Stakes on Aug. 11, tried to manage the early going once more, taking the lead shortly after the gate opened for the 1 1/16-mile race. However jockey Umberto Rispoli and Journalism did not let him get too far forward as Gaming on the rail stayed shut as nicely.
“Umberto bounced out of there and put him within the recreation early,” mentioned McCarthy. “He discovered himself slightly large on the primary flip, however he was at all times cruising up the bottom.”
When the sphere headed into the second flip, Gaming on the within launched his greatest effort. He could not maintain it, whereas Journalism was simply gearing up.
“Across the three-eighths pole, Umberto was asking him to choose it up and he was type of slowly getting there,” McCarthy mentioned. “You may see it took him a bit to get his ft beneath him, however as soon as he leveled off within the lane, he was excellent.”
So good, in truth, that Journalism’s momentum propelled him previous Getaway Automotive. Journalism elevated his benefit to three 1/2 lengths on the wire, stopping the timer in 1:43.04. Getaway Automotive completed second, three lengths in entrance of Gaming, adopted by Rank, and Mellencamp.
The Futurity supplied factors on the Street to the 2025 Kentucky Derby introduced by Woodford Reserve: 10 to Journalism, 5 to Getaway Automotive, three to Gaming, two to Rank, and one to Mellencamp. With earlier factors earned, Gaming and Getaway Automotive are at present second and third on the leaderboard, with 18 and 16 factors respectively. Journalism’s 10 places him right into a seven-way tie for fifth. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull leads with 40.
The Kentucky Derby factors and the $120,000 first-place purse made the choice to complement Journalism to the race for $7,500 a very good one for the possession group. Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Steady, Eclipse Thoroughbred Companions, Elayne Stables 5, and Robert LaPenta are the companions in Journalism.
“We gave this horse each alternative to not run right this moment, however he had two great works, and he was very cool and composed within the paddock,” McCarthy mentioned. “He is choosing issues up quick.”
McCarthy additionally trains one other good 2-year-old in Bullard, a son of Gun Runner who’s 2-for-2 after profitable the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes Nov. 17 at Del Mar.
