Fifteen horses put in their final serious moves Oct. 26 ahead of the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, including Preakness (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism.
Journalism, a 3-year-old son of Curlin , breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01 2/5 at Del Mar, working in company with stablemate Legitimate under his new jockey Jose Ortiz, who will replace Umberto Rispoli in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 1. Ortiz flew in from Kentucky after riding at Keeneland to be aboard Journalism in his final breeze.
"It obviously helps, but he's very straightforward," Ortiz said about getting on the colt before the Classic. "He did everything right. I didn't try to test him or anything. We know he's a nice horse. We're just trying to get to know him a little bit. But he was very classy out there, as he's always been.
"He's a very classy horse. A beautiful mover," Ortiz continued. "We went out there and did five eighths. I just let him stretch his legs and be happy. The horse is ready."
Trainer Michael McCarthy was equally impressed with the work.
"We were just looking for a maintenance work this morning," McCarthy said. "I think we got that accomplished. I loved the way he galloped out. Went from the wire to the seven-eighths and shading :11 and two. All good."
Journalism, who is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, will face last year's first through third-place finishers from the Classic in Sierra Leone , Fierceness , and Forever Young, though the biggest threat will likely be Godolphin's Sovereignty. Journalism ran second to the Bill Mott trainee in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1). His most recent effort came in the Pacific Classic (G1) where he finished second to Fierceness.
"There's just absolutely no chinks in his armor," said Aron Wellman, president of Eclipse Thoroughbreds, of Journalism. "His three defeats (this year) have come at the hands of two horses, Sovereignty, a proven elite individual, and Fierceness, the 2-year-old champion, the Travers winner, and now a grade 1 winner at 4. Everybody's seen his brilliance for three seasons now. Those are his three losses to two horses. Even in defeat, he's been brilliant and brave."
Sovereignty galloped 1 1/2 miles Sunday and walked the paddock. He is expected to breeze 4 furlongs at 7 a.m. PT Oct. 27 with assistant trainer Neil Poznansky up.
"He will work Monday; we're not looking to show him off," Mott said. "He has already done that. He generally wants to get to his exercise. He is certainly willing to go to the track; there is no hesitation. He likes to walk up there and get started. I don't know if he could be better. Is he going to have to improve a little to beat the older horses? Maybe."
Dorth Vader Puts in Final Breeze For Distaff
Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) winner Dorth Vader put in her final breeze at Del Mar ahead of the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), working 4 furlongs in :49. The 5-year-old daughter of Girvin was recently seen finishing a nose behind 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1). The Florida-bred has earned more than $1 million in her career thus far for trainer George Weaver and owner/breeder John Ropes.
"She broke off a little slow, but she finished up well, so I had the rider let her gallop on out," said Blair Golen, assistant trainer to Weaver. "She got off in :26 and 1 and finished up in 49 and 1, so a strong finish. I was happy with her and the way she cools out. She's fit, it's just letting her blow off some mental steam."
Her morning activity Monday has yet to be determined, but it is possible she will receive a short gallop.
Brendan Walsh's Distaff duo of Clicquot and Gin Gin are set to ship from Kentucky to California Oct. 27. Gin Gin, recent winner of the Spinster Stakes (G1), recorded her final work Oct. 23 at Keeneland, with Clicquot putting hers in Oct. 25 at Churchill Downs.
"All good with them both," Walsh said. "They came out of their works well and are flying out tomorrow."
Reigning Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Straight No Chaser Posts Final Work
MyRacehorse's reigning Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Straight No Chaser put in his final work Sunday ahead of an attempted title defense in the race. The Dan Blacker trainee breezed four furlongs in :49 at Santa Anita Park, and is slated to ship to Del Mar after Monday morning's training is complete.
"It was a good work," Blacker said. "His last two or three works have been really good. He has good enthusiasm, good energy. That's what I want to see. He did pick up some company today, which wasn't ideal, but my assistant, Juan (Landerso), did a great job."
Lightly raced in 2025, the son of Speightster won the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse before finishing eighth in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) in April. His most recent effort was a third-place finish in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) Sept. 28.
Wesley Ward's Sprint entries of Nakatomi and Whatchatalkinabout breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01 3/5 together Sunday morning at Keeneland.
"Whatchatalkinabout breezed (started) in front (of Nakatomi)," Ward said. "They just clicked off around there and went home and everything went well. They finished up right together and everything was good."
The pair will ship to Del Mar from Kentucky Monday morning.
The following pre-entered horses breezed Sunday:
| Horse | Track | Distance | Time | Division |
| Civil Liberty | Del Mar | 4F (Dirt-Fast) | :46 4/5 | Juvenile |
| Dorth Vader | Del Mar | 4F (Dirt-Fast) | :49 | Distaff |
| Explora | Santa Anita Park | 5F (Dirt-Fast) | 1:00 1/5 | Juvenile Fillies |
| Goal Oriented | Santa Anita Park | 4F (Dirt-Fast) | :47 2/5 | Dirt Mile |
| Journalism | Del Mar | 5F (Dirt-Fast) | 1:01 2/5 | Classic |
| Kopion | Santa Anita Park | 3F (Dirt-Fast) | :33 1/5 | Filly and Mare Sprint/Sprint |
| La Kika (PER) | Del Mar | 4F (Dirt-Fast) | :47 2/5 | Filly and Mare Turf |
| Motorious | Santa Anita Park | 5F (AW-Fast) | 1:01 1/5 | Turf Sprint |
| Nobals | Hawthorne | 4F (Dirt-Fast) | :46 | Turf Sprint |
| Nakatomi | Keeneland | 5F (Dirt-Fast) | 1:01 3/5 | Sprint |
| Rogue Legend (GB) | Keeneland | 5F (Dirt-Fast) | 1:02 4/5 | Dirt Mile |
| Should've | Keeneland | 5F (Dirt-Fast) | 1:04 1/5 | Juvenile Turf Sprint |
| Straight No Chaser | Santa Anita Park | 4F (Dirt-Fast) | :49 | Sprint |
| Whatchatalkinabout | Keeneland | 5F (Dirt-Fast) | 1:01 3/5 | Sprint |
| Zeitlos | Del Mar | 3F (Dirt-Fast) | :36 1/5 | Filly and Mare Sprint |
