Journalism Overcame a Dreadful Start to Win the San Diego

The son of Curlin put on his finest display on the Del Mar dirt, in a race that ultimately did not feature the Argentine Full Serrano

DEL MAR, California (Special to Turf Diario).- What promised to be one of the summer's premier attractions at Del Mar lost a great deal of its intrigue just hours before the gates opened. The Argentine standout Full Serrano (Full Mast), who was set to return to the track where he captured glory in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and later finished second in the Pacific Classic (G1), had to be scratched at the last minute after a blood vessel issue was detected, a complication that led to an infection under a protective pad on one of his hooves, forcing his connections to take no risks.

The absence of the South American representative left the road even clearer for Journalism, who justified his heavy favoritism by capturing Saturday's San Diego Handicap (G2, 1700m, dirt) at Del Mar, the traditional local stepping stone toward the Pacific Classic on August 22.

However, the victory was far from straightforward. The son of Curlin shocked the crowd by spotting his rivals several lengths at the start, forcing Umberto Rispoli to urge him from the opening strides just to stay in contention. The Italian rider reacted quickly and, before completing the first half of the journey, had already guided the Michael McCarthytrainee into striking position.

With Mirahmadi (Into Mischief) establishing the early pace, it was the Chilean-bred The Goat (Midshipman)—the other horse carrying strong continental expectations following the scratch of Full Serrano—who launched the strongest bid midway through the far turn. However, his effort proved short-lived, and he quickly began to fade.

That was when Journalism made his move. While never known for an explosive turn of foot, he found running room just as Shea Brennan (Tough Sunday) was looking for an opening along the inside. Rispoli managed to hold his position, and once fully extended, the favorite opened up enough of a cushion to hold off the late charge of Shea Brennan by three-quarters of a length. Iron Man Cal (Collected) completed the board, finishing 2 1/4 lengths back in third.

The clock stopped at 1m42s65/100 for the 1700 meters, confirming the dominance of the heavy choice, who returned a meager $2.40 for every two dollars wagered.

"Umberto did a great job keeping our horse in that spot for just the right amount of time. I don't know if it ended up making the difference, but it would have been interesting to find out," commented Phil D'Amato, trainer of the runner-up Shea Brennan.

For Journalism, the triumph signaled a return to the winner's circle following four consecutive defeats against the division elite. The star colt, who last year chased home Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the Kentucky Derby (G1) before capturing the Preakness Stakes (G1), showed his finest form once again. The victory also marked a poignant reunion with Rispoli, who had been his rider in the 2025 Haskell Stakes (G1) before suffering a severe fracture to his right leg during January's Pegasus World Cup Festival.

"They put in two screws and a rod to reconstruct the leg. Coming back to ride after five months was something very significant. The main thing is that I'm alive," the Italian jockey recalled emotionally.

The connections will now target the Pacific Classic (G1), a race in which Journalism finished second last year and which will be contested over this very same Del Mar strip.

The afternoon left a bittersweet taste due to the inability to see Full Serrano in action, as his presence had elevated the race's profile considerably. The Argentine, returning to the scene of his greatest performances in the United States, had to remain in the barn out of precaution—a logical veterinary decision, though frustrating for those anticipating another chapter of his California campaign.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ3GekTwFqY