Journalism’s Camp Not Throwing In the Towel

[Wandering Eyes]

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — The party was just getting started in the cramped winner's circle at Saratoga Race Course. It almost seemed like half of the 46,243 that came out to Saratoga to watch the GI Belmont Stakes were in there. Well, let's not get carried away.

But it was jammed, and everyone was singing the praises of Sovereignty (Into Mischief), the Most Valuable Player in the second annual Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga.

Even those who were vanquished by Sovereignty had to give a congratulatory nod to the Godolphin-owned, Bill Mott-trained and Junior Alvarado-ridden champions.

While Sovereignty was getting his flowers, connections of the second-place finisher, Journalism (Curlin), the 2-1 favorite, had to swallow another tough loss. The three-length defeat came on the heels of a 1 1/2-length defeat in the GI Kentucky Derby.

“I think you can call it a rivalry,” Aron Wellman, the President and Founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, who head the ownership group of Journalism, said outside the winner's circle. “But the scoreboard reads, 2-0.”

Michael McCarthy, Journalism's thoughtful trainer, paused after speaking to a handful of writers and listened to a throng of fans who were shouting mostly good things.

“We will get him home,” McCarthy he said to them, “feed him some carrots and maybe come back here in August (for the Grade I Travers).”

Journalism had earned favoritism after his heroic and brave win in the GI Preakness Stakes three weeks ago in Baltimore. While Journalism was playing pinball through the stretch at Pimlico and completing an improbable victory, Sovereignty was resting in Mott's barn at the Oklahoma Training Track.

Waiting for the Belmont, Waiting for Journalism.

The debate would start as soon as the Belmont was finished. Did Sovereignty have an advantage because he was fresher? Journalism was the only horse to compete in all three legs of this year's Triple Crown.

McCarthy and Wellman were not going to use that as an excuse.

“I am very pleased with my horse's effort,” McCarthy said. “I could not be prouder of him. You would have to think that a horse of (Sovereignty's) caliber gets five weeks between races … I just thought our horse ran very well.”

It appeared as though Journalism might just even the score when he and jockey Umberto Rispoli disposed of leaders Rodriguez (Authentic) and Crudo (Justify) and roared into the lead heading into the stretch of the 1 1/4-mile race.

But Sovereignty was gaining momentum, and he was closing. Fast.

“It was reminiscent of the Kentucky Derby,” McCarthy said. “We opened up at the top of the lane and I saw those (Godolphin) royal blue silks and I knew it would be the two of them all over again.”

Rispoli, back outside the jockey's room, shook his head when asked about the race. He was disappointed in the result, of course, but not in his horse.

Journalism, he said, gave him everything he had. He refused to say the colt was tired, the rigors of the three hard efforts in five Triple Crown races finally getting to him.

“I had the two targets,” he said. “When there was a quarter of a mile to go, it was time to go. He responded. He fought. He just got beat. I never felt a lack of energy from him.”

If there was any nit-picking to be had for the trip, maybe it was Journalism having a bit of a stumble coming out of the gate. No one was saying it cost him.

For the second time in five weeks, Journalism just got beat by the better–and fresher–horse.

McCarthy, Wellman and Rispoli hope there is another chapter in the rivalry and hope it comes sooner than later.

“We are probably going to face each other probably until the end of the season,” Rispoli said. “It will be a good battle; it will be good for the sport.”

“Listen,” Wellman said, “This horse has danced every dance and has shown up every single time. Everyone hopes these two horses can face off again the second half of the season.”

McCarthy, before disappearing into the crowd, talked of seeing Sovereignty again. Maybe in the Travers, hopefully at the end of the year in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic on his home court at Del Mar.

“Let's hope everybody stays happy and healthy and we will see him in November in our backyard,” he said. “I can't say enough good things about that horse. I can't say enough good things about my horse.”

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