Carlos Heller, Don Alberto and the Chilean Dream Aiming for Glory in the Preakness with Journalism

The breeder recalls how the project was born in Kentucky—the missteps, the milestones, and the dream of winning a Triple Crown jewel with his dark bay colt

Carlos Heller (right) was on hand to witness Journalism’s Santa Anita Derby triumph live / BENOIT PHOTO

By Diego H. Mitagstein

The 2025 renewal of the GI Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the American Triple Crown to be run this afternoon at Pimlico, will carry a distinctly South American—more precisely, Chilean—flavor.

Among those lining up in the starting gate will be Heart of Honor (Honor A.P.), out of the accomplished Chilean mare Ruby Love (Scat Daddy), winner of the G1 Arturo Lyon Peña at Club Hípico de Santiago. Also flying the flag for South America will be jockey Raúl Mena, who makes his Preakness debut aboard Pay Billy (Improbable), the top local hope coming off back-to-back wins in the Private Terms S. and Federico Tesio S., both Listed events.

But the most significant connection to Latin America will come through Journalism (Curlin), the Preakness favorite and runner-up in the GI Kentucky Derby. Bred in Lexington by Don Alberto Stable, the Chilean outfit founded by Carlos Heller and his mother Liliana Solari Falabella, Journalism represents the pinnacle of a project that began just over a decade ago with a dream to compete at the sport’s highest level.

"We were drawn to Kentucky by its beauty," Heller recalled in a recent interview with Objetivo Breeders’ Cup. “We used to visit various farms during the Southern Hemisphere shuttle seasons, especially when stallions like Scat Daddywere expected to travel south. I bought two mares specifically to breed to him, and we already had three others based at Hill ‘n’ Dale, on the property that’s now ours."

That was just the beginning. “One day, we saw that the Vinery farm, located right across the road, was up for sale. I arranged a visit immediately, only to be told it had already been sold to an international investor. I reached out to a real estate broker and told him that if the deal fell through, I’d pay the full asking price. Miraculously, it did fall through—I jumped on the first plane and closed the deal.”

He kept the purchase a secret from his mother, orchestrating a surprise reveal. “I invited her to Kentucky under the pretense of visiting a vet who was showing us new breeding techniques. When we arrived at the property, she saw a girl wearing one of our silks, holding a tray of champagne. She said, ‘How thoughtful of them to wear our colors!’ That’s when I told her, ‘Mom, this farm is yours.’ She was stunned. That’s how our adventure began.”

The road from that moment to this weekend’s Preakness contender has been far from smooth. “People think it’s as simple as owning a mare and breeding her to Tapit, Justify, or Curlin, and that success will just happen,” Heller said. “But we quickly learned that wasn’t the case.”

Don Alberto began to adapt. “We got to know the market, the consignors, and the buyers. In the early days, we even removed the Don Alberto name from our consignments because it worked against us. Eventually, things changed. We began doing things the way the Americans do—choosing the right matings, paying appropriate stud fees, and buying the kind of mares that appeal to the local market. We made mistakes, like acquiring European mares with stellar pedigrees thinking it was a golden ticket. But we had to recalibrate, switch out mares, and wait. That’s how Don Alberto began to take shape. The U.S. market is spectacular—but you have to live it to understand it.”

Among Don Alberto’s success stories are Arcangelo (Arrogate), winner of the GI Belmont Stakes; Unique Bella(Tapit), who helped raise the program’s profile; and Muth (Good Magic), another standout.

“All those victories make us proud,” Heller said. “If someone had told me years ago that we’d be in the Top 100 U.S. breeders, I’d have laughed. Now we’re in the Top 5—behind Godolphin, ahead of WinStar, and right there with Stonestreet. But it takes immense dedication, effort, and love for the sport.”

Journalism is owned by a high-profile partnership, reflecting a modern trend in U.S. racing. “It’s a smart system,” Heller explained. “Average prices are more stable than they used to be. In the past, individual buyers would push prices up by competing for the same horses. Now, people pool resources—buying 25 together instead of two each. That way, the odds of landing future stallions or broodmares improve. Within these groups, there are often subgroups. We’re part of one.”

On the colt himself, Heller is full of praise and sentiment. “It’s incredibly meaningful to have bred a horse like this and to be involved at this level. We retained a 25% share after selling him, at the request of the buyers—Mike McCarthy specifically asked for it. I handpicked his dam, Mopotism (Uncle Mo), because I loved her conformation and pedigree. Journalism was a standout from the start.”

The decision to run in the Preakness after the Derby was not taken lightly. “All the owners agreed to run, but we left the final call to the trainer, who had until the Saturday before entries closed to assess the horse. We were anxious—not just because of the opportunity, but because Coolmore had acquired his breeding rights. These deals come with bonus structures for performances in specific races. Unfortunately, we missed out on the Derby incentive. But the Preakness has a strong bonus attached too, and the Belmont’s reward is contingent on a win in either of the first two legs. So if we skipped the Preakness, we’d be out of the running for any further bonuses. Still, we wouldn’t have gone ahead unless the horse was 100%.”

In closing, Heller adds: “Considering how many foals are born each year in the U.S., just making it into the top 20 for the Derby or the final nine for the Preakness is already an honor. We’ll fight for it, try to improve on our last race, and hopefully bring home the victory we’ve been dreaming of—a win in one of the jewels of the American Triple Crown.”

As Journalism lines up at Pimlico with the weight of expectations and the dreams of a continent behind him, Heller’s journey comes full circle—a testament to vision, perseverance, and a love for the Thoroughbred that knows no borders.