John Clay: Kentucky Derby 151's biggest question: Can anyone beat Journalism?

John Clay, Lexington Herald-Leader on May 2, 2025

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There is a bullseye on the back of the impressive-looking 3-year-old colt named Journalism, but the favorite for Kentucky Derby 151 is paying it no mind.

Outside of trainer Michael McCarthy’s Barn 35 at Churchill Downs on Thursday, the mood was a mix of clam and confidence.

“Smooth as silk,” said Aron Wellman of the week. “The horse is in good form, high energy, taking it all in stride. So we’re pleased.”

Wellman is the head of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, the majority owner of the son of Curlin who brings a four-race win streak into Saturday’s race, including an impressive performance in the Santa Anita Derby.

Following Citizen Bull and Barnes up the backstretch, Journalism was shuffled behind Westwood, then was bumped by Barnes before jockey Umberto Rispoli brought the colt into the clear, three wide in the stretch, to produce a strong finish for a three-quarters-length win.

“Our problem in California is the smaller field size compared to some of these other preps,” McCarthy said. “But I thought it was a very good experience for him, all things considered.”

How Journalism dealt with obstacles in a five-horse field is one more reason the California-based colt has risen to the top of the pre-Derby odds board. According to speed figures, he’s the fastest horse in the race. He’s 4 for 4 in route races. Curlin is a proven sire of classic distance runners. And Journalism drew the favorable No. 8 post position in the 20-horse field.

That doesn’t mean Journalism is a sure thing, of course. The last six Kentucky Derby favorites all failed to hit the finish line first. Serious contenders aren’t lacking.

Trainer Bill Mott’s Sovereignty has looked impressive coming off his second-place finish in the Florida Derby after winning the Fountain of Youth. The son of Into Mischief won the Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs by 5 lengths last October.

“His running style is fine if he doesn’t run into much traffic,” said Mott, who won the 2019 Kentucky Derby with Country House. “I think we’re good with the distance and he’s already won a race over the track.”

Trainer Mark Casse’s Sandman is coming off a win in the Arkansas Derby where the son of Tapit appeared to finally find his form.

“He’s just gotten better and better,” said Casse, who won the 2019 Preakness with War of Will. “All of the bad luck he had in those previous two races (second in the Southwest; third in the Rebel Stakes), he got a lot of good luck in the Arkansas Derby.”

But, said Casse, “Mark, if you get to pick one horse and you don’t have to run against him, it would be Journalism.”

The 54-year-old McCarthy worked 11 years for trainer Todd Pletcher before striking out on his own in 2014. He won the 2021 Preakness with Rombauer, but made his Kentucky Derby debut last year when Endlessly finished ninth with Rispoli aboard.

“Aron and I are very like-minded,” said the trainer. “It’s become more like a family type of situation. The majority of our conversations are about life and about other things, other than horses.”

Then again, Journalism isn’t just any horse. Or horse name.

“Curlins are kind of hard to name, so we went off the dam’s name Mopotism, who was by Uncle Mo,” Wellman said Thursday. “And we’ve always tried to name horses the old-fashioned Claiborne way, one-word names with a clever connotation to the pedigree.”

The California native said he didn’t know how clever the name Journalism is, but it does check one box in that, “As sports editor of my high school paper, I’ve been accused a time or two of being a disgruntled sports writer.”

The colt’s assets go beyond the name, of course.

“He’s got several, thankfully,” Wellman said. “He’s got the physical attributes and perhaps equally important, he’s got the mind. He’s really a smart, classy horse, which allows him to handle the hype and pressure of the moments like he’s faced with here.”

And how is Wellman handling hype and pressure?

“He makes it easy on us, honestly,” Wellman said. “As you can see around the barn, the energy is light and sort of festive and we’re trying to keep it that way. As long as he’s doing well, he’s going to keep our nerves at ease.”

Anything can happen in the Kentucky Derby, but Journalism will be tough to beat.