Journalism Digs Deep to Take San Diego Handicap

Months of frustration for both horse and rider came to a satisfying end in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) July 18 at Del Mar, when the reunion of the classic colt Journalism and an inspired Umberto Rispoli resulted in a three-quarter-length victory at the end of a suspenseful mile and one-sixteenth. As the heavy favorite facing four outclassed opponents, Journalism was expected to take the San Diego with relative ease despite his top weight of 125 pounds. All bets were off, though, when he missed the break, spotting the field several lengths as Mirahmadi led the pack on the short run into the first turn. Rispoli responded quickly, urging the big son of Curlin into action, and by the time the field rounded the turn and passed the half-mile mark in :47.47, Journalism was poised outside, just behind the leaders. An infection detected under a hoof patch kept morning-line second choice Full Serrano (ARG) in the barn, leaving The Goat (CHI) to carry the San Diego hopes of the John Sadler stable. The Goat responded with a bold move turning into the stretch, while the Phil D'Amato-trained pair of Iron Man Cal and Shea Brennan made their moves. The deck shuffled on the final turn when Mirahmadi weakened and The Goat fired and fell back. Never known for his instant acceleration, Journalism had the right answer for Rispoli when Shea Brennan and Armando Ayuso probed for a hole to make the first run to no avail. When Shea Brennan finally sprung free, Rispoli had the daylight and the momentum to hold Ayuso at bay. Iron Man Cal hung on for third, 2 1/4 lengths behind his D'Amato stablemate. The winner was clocked in 1:42.65 and returned $2.40 on a $2 investment. "Umberto did a great job of keeping our horse pinned there just long enough," D'Amato said. "I don't know if it made the difference, but it would have been nice to have found out." Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners—owners of Journalism along with Don Alberto Stable, Bridlewood Farm, Elayne Stables 5, Robert LaPenta, and Coolmore—watched a replay of the race with the relief of someone who had just dodged a bullet. "For him to break like he did, and carry all that weight—what an effort," Wellman said. "He came to the race with minimum preparation, too. So we can really look forward from here." It had been one day shy of a year since Journalism carried Rispoli to a narrow victory in the Haskell Stakes (G1) with a last-second surge to overcome a painfully wide journey. Four subsequent losses against world-class company did little to remind fans of the Journalism who gave Sovereignty a scare in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and then won a raucous Preakness Stakes (G1). Rispoli was replaced along the way by Jose Ortiz. Then, last January, the former Italian champion and popular California personality suffered severe fractures of his lower right leg in a race on the undercard of the Pegasus World Cup Festival at Gulfstream Park. "It took two screws and a rod to put the bones back together," Rispoli said. "Coming back after that in five months was pretty good. The important thing is I'm alive." Trainer Michael McCarthy and the rest of the Journalism camp now will point for the $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) Aug. 22, a race in which the colt finished second to the older Fierceness in 2025. As part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series, the San Diego awarded $15,000 to the winner, $7,500 to the runner-up, and $3,750 to the third-place finisher to apply toward entry fees for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), or another eligible Breeders' Cup dirt race Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Somerset West Upsets San Clemente The John Sadler crew did not take long to bounce back from the San Diego disappointment to shock the $202,500 San Clemente Handicap (G2T) a half hour later with Somerset West, bred and owned by Keith Abrahams and ridden by Ayuso. The 3-year-old daughter of Kantharos slipped through inside a phalanx of finishers to edge the D'Amato filly Inbox (GB) by half a length at the end of a mile on firm turf in 1:34.76 at odds of 35-1. Favored Raiding Party (IRE) finished third. Somerset West was making her fifth start and first since June 6, when she won a Santa Anita Park maiden race. She was running beyond 6 1/2 furlongs for the first time. A few hours after Splendora defied the New Jersey elements to win the $500,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G2) at Monmouth Park Saturday for Michael Talla and partners Randy and Jenny Boyd, the 2-year-old filly Holmby carried the By Talla Racing colors to an easy score in a $102,000 Del Mar maiden event. Bob Baffert trains the daughter of Corniche, as well as runner-up Quattro Passi. Holmby, a $55,000 Fasig-Tipton's The July Sale yearling in 2025, got the 5 furlongs on a fast main track in :57.33.