1 of 2 | Journalism rolls to victory and a spot on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” leaderboard in the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity. Benoit Photography, courtesy of Los Alamitos
Dec. 16 (UPI) — Journalism wrote a novel chapter into the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” narrative as winner of the weekend’s biggest race, the Los Alamitos Futurity.
The weekend also included a smattering of Kentucky Derby sidebars, notably the Remington Springboard Mile. Turfway Park packaged four $250,000 races into a nice program on its all-weather surface. And Fair Grounds celebrated Louisiana-breds.
On the global scene, the first Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” of the 2025 season went into the books in Argentina. And Admire Zoom topped a competitive field of 2-year-olds in Japan.
Onward and upward.
The Road to the Roses
Saddling three of the five starters wasn’t enough to get trainer Bob Baffert his eighth victory in the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity Saturday.
Instead, it was Journalism, a Curlin colt from the Mike McCarthy barn, who got the job done, rallying by the Baffert-trained pacesetter Getaway Car to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Getaway Car, in turn, finished 3 lengths in front of stablemate Gaming, the odds-on favorite after finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Journalism, with Umberto Rispoli up, tracked that duo into the stretch, took the lead with a furlong to go and wasn’t threatened after. He got his second straight win after finishing third in his career debut.
“We gave this horse every opportunity not to run today,” McCarthy said. “But he had two wonderful [workputs] and he was very cool and composed in the paddock. He’s picking things up fast.”
On Friday at Remington Park, Coal Battle rallied four-wide to challenge the leaders late in the $300,000 Springboard Mile and got there just in time to win by 1/2 length over pacesetting favorite Speed King.
The Coal Front colt, trained by Lonnie Briley, backed up his victory a month earlier in the 6 1/2-furlongs Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs.
Coal Battle and Journalism earned 10 points each, moving them into a seven-way tie for fifth through 12th on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” leaderboard. Breeders’ Cup winner Citizen Bull, another from the Baffert string, tops the list, followed by Gaming and Getaway Car.
Also: Sacrosanct earned his fourth win without loss, all against fellow New York-breds, taking Saturday’s $500,000 Fifth Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Stakes at Aqueduct by a head; Smoken Wicked won Saturday’s $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile for state-breds by 2 lengths from Hay Jude at Fair Grounds; and Shea Brennan won Sunday’s $100,000 King Glorious Stakes for California-breds at Los Alamitos.
The Road to the Oaks
Stone Smuggler took back early in Saturday’s $500,000 Great White Way Division of the New York Stallion Stakes, came four-wide around the stretch turn to contend for the lead and got home first by 1 3/4 lengths for Jose Lezcano.
The Honest Mischief filly, trained by Jorge Abreu, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track. It was her second win from four starts, all in state-bred company.
Also: Glee kicked away late to win Friday night’s $75,000 Toby Keith Stakes at Remington Park by 10 3/4 lengths, and Blue Fire took Saturday’s $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Lassie for state-breds by a head.
Classic
Paros outfinished Dresden Row to win Saturday’s $250,000 Prairie Bayou Stakes at Turfway Park by a head. The 4-year-old Cairo Prince gelding ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather course in course-record time of 1:42.22 with Luis Saez up for trainer Mike Maker.
Distaff
Dana’s Beauty led from the early jumps in Saturday’s $250,000 My Charmer Stakes on the Turfway Park all-weather and won by 4 1/2 lengths, ridden out by Luis Saez. The 6-year-old Not This Time mare, trained by Mike Maker, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.34.
Sprint
After a slow start, Howard Wolowitz shadowed the early leaders in Saturday’s $250,000 Holiday Cheer Stakes at Turfway Park, closed inside and was up in time to win by 1 1/2 lengths over pacesetting Run Carson.
The 3-year-old Munnings colt got 6 furlongs on the all-weather surface in 1:08.10 with Emisael Jaramillo up for trainer Jose D’Angelo.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Awesome Treat came with a late rush to win Saturday’s $250,000 Holiday Inaugural Stakes on the Turfway Park all-weather course by 2 3/4 lengths. Bling, who challenged for the lead early in the stretch run, held on for second in a battle of long shots.
Awesome Treat, a 6-year-old daughter of Awesome Patriot, ran 6 furlongs in 1:08.76 with Sophie Doyle in the kip.
Turf
Cugino made up ground between rivals in the stretch run of Saturday’s $140,000 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Park and was up in time to win a three-way stretch battle over Full Nelson and the favorite, Silent Heart. Cugino, a Twirling Candy colt, ran 1 1/16 mile on firm turf with Irad Ortiz Jr. up for trainer Shug McGaughey.
Filly & Mare Turf
See You Around caught pacesetting favorite In Our Time just in time to be seen around the winner’s circle after Saturday’s $140,000 Tropical Park Oaks at Gulfstream Park.
The Irish-bred Siyouni filly ran 1 1/16 miles on firm going in 1:39.49 with Irad Ortiz Jr. scoring the turf stakes double – this time for trainer Christophe Clement.
Around the world, around the clock
Japan
Admire Zoom separated himself from the pack in the stretch run of Sunday’s Grade 1 Asahai Hai Futurity at Kyoto Racecourse and also put some distance between himself and rivals for next year’s Japanese Classic races.
Along with the Dec. 28 Hopeful Stakes, the Futurity is the initial big sorting-out for young colts. Admire Zoom, making just his third start, rose to the occasion in his first graded stakes effort while facing others with more experience at the level.
With Yuga Kawada up, Admire Zoom raced just behind the pacesetter down the backstretch and around the outer turf loop. Heading into the stretch, he opened up a big lead with minimal encouragement and won by 2 1/2 lengths from Museum Mile, finishing the 1,600 meters in 1:34.1.
Argentina
Sure, it’s only been a month and one-half since the World Championships at Del Mar, but we’re already under way for next year’s Halloween renewal at the same venue.
Intense for Me caught El Kodigo at the finish line of Saturday’s Group 1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional at Hipodromo de San Isidro in Buenos Aires, earning a “Win and You’re In” spot in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf next year.
The winner finished 1 1/2 miles in 2:23.17, improving to eight wins from 13 starts.
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