Journalism has already arrived at Saratoga, but his participation in the GI Belmont Stakes has yet to be confirmed

Just as they did after the GI Kentucky Derby, his connections will wait a few days before making a decision; everyone is already dreaming of a rematch with Sovereignty

Journalism has already stretched his legs over the Saratoga dirt / BENOIT PHOTO

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- Brave winner of last Saturday's GI Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, Journalism could get his much-anticipated rematch with Sovereignty (Into Mischief), hero of the GI Kentucky Derby, in the upcoming GI Belmont Stakes, set to be run June 7 at Saratoga Race Course. Sponsored by NYRA Bets, the third leg of the Triple Crown will offer a $2-million purse.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will span five days—from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8—featuring a record 27 stakes races and total purses of $11.275 million, marking the richest and most stakes-laden edition since the format was introduced in 2014.

The dark bay is already bedded down at Saratoga, but connections are expected to wait a few more days before confirming his participation in the Belmont—a decision many believe is only a matter of time.

“You always want to see a horse showing you all the right signs—eating well, good energy, relaxed in his stall,” said trainer Michael McCarthy to The Blood-Horse. “You spend so much time around these horses that you really get to know them like the back of your hand.

“His morning routine won’t change much. Obviously, the logistics are different now, but our approach with him remains the same. We’re just looking for the same signs he’s always given us. If anything feels off, we’ll take a step back. But he’s been a very straightforward horse to manage.”

Owned in partnership by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert V. LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Journalism finished second—beaten just 1 1/2 lengths—by Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby, where he went off as the post-time favorite at Churchill Downs.

Sovereignty, Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred, skipped the Preakness by design and is being aimed directly at the Belmont. On Saturday morning, he breezed a half-mile in a comfortable :49.76 over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track, observed by only a handful of onlookers.

Later that day in Baltimore, Pimlico erupted in tension as Umberto Rispoli struggled to find racing room for Journalism in the Preakness stretch. In a heart-stopping final quarter mile, the son of Curlin found daylight between Goal Oriented (Not This Time), pressing from the outside, and Clever Again (American Pharoah), who was fading along the rail.

“My heart sank when I saw him try to go through that hole, and then all the bumping that followed,” said Aron Wellman, President and Founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. “Of course I was worried for both the horse and Umberto. When he got through, I thought he had lost all chance to win.”

But Journalism, showing remarkable agility and heart, quickly found his stride. While Gosger opened up by five lengths at the top of the stretch and Sandman (Tapit)—winner of the GI Arkansas Derby—loomed boldly, Rispoli asked for more and got it. Journalism surged past Sandman and bore down on Gosger, collaring him in the final strides to score by a half-length in one of the most dramatic wins of the season.

“I went from despair, thinking there was no way he could win, to this wild hope that somehow he’d pull off a miracle,” Wellman added. “It took a top-class horse and rider to do that. He overcame so much. I won’t say it was easy—it was grueling—but Umberto never even touched him in the final sixteenth.”

Should Journalism take part, it would mark a second Belmont Stakes attempt for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, who captured the 2017 edition with Tapwrit (Tapit) in partnership with Bridlewood Farm and Robert V. LaPenta.

If plans shift and Journalism bypasses the Belmont, his next target could be the GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Parkon July 19—one of the summer’s two marquee races for 3-year-olds alongside the GI Travers Stakes.