A horse, fuming with determination, storms onto the track, ready to conquer despite a frustrating equipment issue. That was Journalism, the odds-on favorite (6-to-5), in the 150th Preakness Stakes on Saturday, charging through adversity to claim a $2.1 million victory at Pimlico Race Course. Jockey Umberto Rispoli guided this powerhouse to a win that was as much about heart as it was about speed. But the path to victory wasn’t exactly a smooth one! But Journalism had to do it, for the sake of salvaging his image!

Coming off a second-place finish to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby just two weeks prior, Journalism faced a tough crowd in the final stretch. Bumped hard by Goal Oriented near the quarter pole, it seemed like another runner-up spot was looming. But Journalism wasn’t having it. He avenged himself and how!

According to a tweet from the ‘With The Works’ X handle, “Journalism was pissed off coming on the track due to the equip issue, you could see his demeanor, he was angry, but he was controlled, he was fuming and he ran angry and it helped him, when he put that shoulder into Goal Oriented and you can hear him mouth “move over you b$@!%h” He literally lifted Goal Oriented up and out.“

The track, dried out after a week of torrential rain, played to Journalism’s strengths—unlike the sloppy conditions at Churchill Downs. Sandwiched between rivals just before the final straightaway, the colt looked boxed in. Yet, with Rispoli’s fearless navigation, Journalism broke free, found his balance, and chased down Gosger, edging him out at the post in 1:55.37 for the 1 3/16-mile race. Gosger, a 19-1 longshot, took second, followed by Sandman in third and Goal Oriented in fourth.

“This victory symbolizes so much about life,” said co-owner Aaron Wellman. “It took guts for Umberto Rispoli to power his way through a seemingly impossible hole getting side-swiped and threading the needle and powering on through. And it took guts from an incredible horse to somehow will his way to victory.”

Sovereignty, the Derby winner, did not compete, as his owners and trainer Bill Mott opted to skip the Preakness due to the tight two-week turnaround, setting their sights on the Belmont on June 7. This marked the fifth time in seven years that the Preakness was run without a Triple Crown bid at stake.

Journalism’s win marked trainer Michael McCarthy’s second Triple Crown triumph and made the colt the first Derby runner-up to win the Preakness since Exaggerator in 2016. Only two other Derby horses, Sandman and American Promise, ran in this Preakness, but neither matched Journalism’s fire. Moreover, the race will be remembered for other reasons as well. It was the last race at Pimlico as it will soon be demolished, making way for a modern building. The 2026 Preakness Stakes will be shifted to Laurel Park, Maryland for the 2026 edition, before returning to Baltimore in 2027.

Bob Baffert praises Journalism after the win and the unlucky horse racing season

Bob Baffert was all in for a dream comeback at Churchill Downs this year, finally back after a three-year suspension. Fans and bettors alike were buzzing, expecting the legendary trainer to light up the Kentucky Derby. But, as luck would have it, the fairy-tale return didn’t quite materialize. The Derby was a bust for Baffert’s stable, and the Preakness Stakes didn’t go much better.

Baffert had high hopes for Rodriguez at Pimlico, but a nagging foot issue threw a wrench in those plans. “He’ll be perfect for the Belmont,” Baffert said, explaining the switch. “I couldn’t prep him like I wanted to. Once he had the foot issue, you got to let those things simmer down. I didn’t have enough time.” To make matters worse, his other contender, Goal Oriented, drew the dreaded post number one—same as Citizen Bull—making an already tough race even trickier.

Goal-oriented, though, was no slouch. The horse had a sparkling record, coming off two straight wins. But at the Preakness, that streak came to a screeching halt with a fourth-place finish.

Despite the setback, Baffert was all class in defeat. “Unbelievable,” he said of Journalism. “That horse, I’ve seen him do it all winter long. He’s a remarkable horse. We’ve seen him at Santa Anita, get in trouble, come running, and he just knows where the wire is. That’s a really good horse.” No sour grapes here—just respect for a competitor who outran the field. Baffert’s tough season might not have gone as planned, but his sportsmanship and eye for talent still shine through, proving why he’s a legend in the game.