Horse racing fans love a comeback story, and this Saturday at Del Mar, they might just get a massive one.
Journalism is a horse that looked like an absolute superstar during the first half of 2025. He captured the Preakness Stakes, took home the Santa Anita Derby, and battled bravely in the Triple Crown series. He looked poised to dominate the dirt division for a long time.
Then the wheels kinda came off.
Journalism is currently riding a frustrating four-race winless streak. His last trip to the winner's circle was all the way back in July 2025 at the Haskell Stakes. Since that day, he has settled for minor awards, hit traffic trouble, and faced some elite competition without finding that extra gear to cross the wire first.
This Saturday's San Diego Handicap at Del Mar is where trainer Michael McCarthy expects his star four-year-old to turn things around. It is a crucial spot. If Journalism wants to reclaim his throne as one of the best older dirt horses in training, the skid needs to end right here.
The Trouble with Del Mar
You might look at Journalism’s record and think he just hates the surface at Del Mar. Honestly, it is easy to see why people think that.
During his dominant three-year-old campaign, he walked into the Pacific Classic at Del Mar as the heavy 2-5 favorite. He was supposed to gallop over that field. Instead, Eastern invader Fierceness ran him off his feet, leaving Journalism to settle for a distant second. He returned to the same track a couple of months later for the Breeders' Cup Classic and checked in a disappointing fourth.
But dismissing him as a horse that can't handle the seaside oval is a mistake. Don't forget that Journalism actually won his maiden race at Del Mar as a two-year-old. He knows where the wire is on this track.
McCarthy point out that some of his recent disappointments come down to bad luck and track geometry rather than a dislike of the dirt. In his last start at Saratoga in the Metropolitan Handicap, Journalism drew an outside post and got totally compromised by the Wilson Chute configuration, losing vital position early. When you are running against horses like Nysos, you can't afford to spot them lengths at the start. He was a victim of circumstances.
The Road Through Full Serrano
Breaking this winless streak is not going to be a walk in the park. The San Diego Handicap is shaping up to be a brutal showdown, primarily because of a talented runner named Full Serrano.
Full Serrano loves Del Mar. He won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on this very track last fall. Like Journalism, Full Serrano has faced his own struggles since his big championship win, managing only a single allowance victory in his last five starts. Both horses are entering this race with plenty to prove, making this a true heavyweight bounce-back battle.
The weights could play a big factor here. Journalism has to carry the top weight of 125 pounds. Full Serrano gets a slight advantage, carrying 122 pounds. Jockey Umberto Rispoli gets back in the irons for Journalism, a rider who knows this colt inside and out and was aboard for his biggest career triumphs.
What Journalism Must Prove
To win on Saturday, Journalism needs to return to the tactical versatility that made him great. When he won the Preakness, he stalked a hot pace, took dirt in his face, and split horses with pure grit. Lately, he has looked a bit one-dimensional, getting left with too much to do turning for home.
Watch the early fractions closely this Saturday. If Rispoli can get Journalism away cleanly from the gate and sit just off the early leaders, he can use his massive stride to wear them down in the Del Mar stretch. He cannot afford to get trapped wide or sit seven lengths out of it if the pace is slow.
If you are betting the race, do not look past Journalism just because of the "0" in his recent win column. The talent is still there. He is a son of Curlin out of Mopotism, meaning he has the pedigree to handle heavy lifting and improve as he gets older. This race is the perfect stepping stone to the Pacific Classic later this summer, and a win here completely resets his season.
Bet him to win if his odds stay around 2-1 or better, but expect a fierce battle from Full Serrano at the top of the lane.
