All eyes on Baltimore! With the Kentucky Derby in the rearview mirror, preparations for the second leg of the prestigious Triple Crown are in full swing. On May 17, the 150th edition of the Preakness Stakes will arrive to entertain horse racing fans once more. But the community can’t help but wonder: Will Journalism be there in the starting lineup at the Pimlico Race Course to make amends for last Saturday’s heartbreak?

At the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3, fan favorite Journalism was subdued by Bill Mott-trained Sovereignty. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s thoroughbred won the 1 1/4 mile race at Churchill Downs emphatically. However, only hours ago, it was announced that Sovereignty would not be running at the 2025 Preakness Stakes to tend to a scrape on its right front pastern. With this information surfacing, fans now scurry to know if Journalism would also pull out of the upcoming race, or if it would look to seize the opportunity with Umberto Rispoli on its back.

Will Journalism get back in the field to prove its worth?

As per an article by Bloodhorse from May 4, the Preakness Stakes is very much “on the table” for Journalism. Trainer Michael McCarthy said that in order to make the final decision on the matter, he would discuss with the horse’s owners, which include Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, and Coolmore affiliates.

“We’ll give him a day or two to get his feet underneath him and see where we’re at. He’s run well back off of quick rest before, so we’ll see,” McCarthy said. In 2021, Michael won his first Preakness Stakes, and after his loss at the Derby last weekend, no doubt he will be even more eager to win the upcoming 1 3/16 mile race on May 17. And there couldn’t be a better bet to do it with, than Journalism.

However, while we await a decision, Journalism will continue to stay at Churchill Downs. In case the 2025 Santa Anita Derby winner is allowed to sit out the Preakness Stakes, McCarthy noted that the horse would be shipped to Saratoga in order to begin preparations for the Belmont Derby. But whatever it may be, the trainer couldn’t be more excited about whatever comes their way. “I would like to win any Triple Crown race. I would have liked to put the Derby in the books and worried about the rest of the stuff later,” he said, “Preakness carries a lot of weight, Belmont carries a lot of weight. It’s a great five weeks of racing. Just to be part of it is a big deal.”

McCarthy’s view on getting Journalism back on the race course stands in stark contrast to Mott’s stance on sending Sovereignty into the thick of things. “We want the career to last more than five weeks,” Mott said. It was decided that the colt’s health was prioritized instead of aiming for the Triple Crown. However, while Journalism won’t be able to get back at Sovereignty, the horse still will be facing incredible competition at Pimlico Race Course.

A stacked line-up awaits fans

Son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Clever Again will be among the competition that Journalism would need to race to the finishing line in order to win this year’s Preakness Stakes. While the horse has a 12-1 odds to its name ahead of the race, the fact that things can change in the blink of an eye is exactly what makes horse racing such an incredible spectacle.

If that wasn’t enough, Bob Baffert’s Rodriguez will also be heading to Pimlico with all guns blazing after having to pull out of the Kentucky Derby due to a foot injury. Baffert, the iconic horse trainer, just served a three-year suspension by CDI and returned to Churchill Downs, only to have no effect on the race. Beyond a shred of doubt, the 72-year-old would look to reinstate himself as an elite trainer by winning the race this time around.

With so many beefy opponents eyeing the Preakness Stakes to assert their superiority, will Journalism ultimately show up? Tell us your thoughts in a comment below!