Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism headlines Preakness Stakes

May 12, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Journalism pictured training for the Kentucky Derby (Photo by Coady Media)

Although Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Sovereignty is skipping the Preakness (G1) by design, Derby runner-up Journalism will advance to Saturday’s middle jewel of the Triple Crown at Pimlico. Fellow Derby veterans Sandman (seventh) and American Promise (16th) are also making the two-week turnaround, while the remaining six contenders are newcomers to the classics.

Journalism, the 3.42-1 favorite in the Derby, brought a four-race winning streak into Churchill Downs. The star of the Santa Anita Derby (G1), San Felipe (G2), and Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) launched his trademark move turning for home, but he could not fend off the even stouter rally of Sovereignty.

Now Journalism hopes to take a page from the playbook of his sire, Hall of Famer Curlin, who placed third in the 2007 Kentucky Derby before rebounding in the Preakness. Trainer Michael McCarthy has won the Preakness himself, with “new shooter” Rombauer (2021). Regular rider Umberto Rispoli will guide Journalism from post 2 in the nine-horse field, where he ranks as the 8-5 favorite on the morning line.

Journalism has been grand since the @KentuckyDerby and @mwmracing has green-lighted him to head to @PimlicoRC for the 150th @PreaknessStakes! We look forward to showcasing Journalism’s talents in Baltimore in such a coveted American Classic w @umbyrispoli set to ride #BelieveBig pic.twitter.com/46glTeh0gF

— Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (@EclipseTBP) May 11, 2025

Sandman, who delivered a breakout performance in the Arkansas Derby (G1) two starts back, closed for seventh in the Churchill slop. The son of Tapit was originally slated to await the June 7 Belmont (G1), like Derby winner Sovereignty, but he was doing so well that connections decided to tackle the Preakness after all.

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse hopes that Sandman can emulate his 2019 Preakness victor War of Will, who was a troubled seventh in the Derby. The deep-closing gray picks up a new rider in John Velazquez.

Todd Pletcher has yet to win the Preakness, a rare lacuna on his Hall of Fame resume. Considering Pletcher’s focus on the Derby, and its five-week spacing to the third jewel in the Belmont, it’s not a great surprise that this is the one Triple Crown race to have eluded him so far. River Thames could have the right profile to fill the gap.

Having qualified for the Derby on points, River Thames opted to pass the 1 1/4-mile “Run for the Roses” and target the 1 3/16-mile Preakness instead. The slightly shorter trip plays to his strengths, and River Thames stacks up well on form. Future Derby winner Sovereignty just collared him late in the Fountain of Youth (G2), and River Thames was subsequently a close third to Burnham Square in the Blue Grass (G1).

The legendary D. Wayne Lukas recorded his seventh Preakness win last year with Seize the Grey, and the octogenarian horseman bids for a record-tying eighth trophy with American Promise. By Triple Crown champion Justify, American Promise briefly contended in the Derby, but tired from chasing the fast pace and wound up 16th. He’s better judged by his previous outing, a track-record romp in the Virginia Derby.

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert owns the record as an eight-time Preakness winner. But all of those winners brought far more experience to bear than his hope on Saturday, Goal Oriented, who makes his stakes debut here. Unbeaten from two starts so far, he captured an allowance on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

Goal Oriented wins the Pleasant Colony presented by GE Appliances! Flavien Prat was aboard for trainer Bob Baffert. pic.twitter.com/HFr5nSfHST

— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 3, 2025

Also short on experience but long on talent is Clever Again, a son of Triple Crown sweeper American Pharoah. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, who sent out Curlin and the great filly Rachel Alexandra (2009) to win here, Clever Again wired his starts at Oaklawn Park including the Hot Springs S. Jockey Jose Ortiz declared his intent to stick with Clever Again before Sandman joined the party.

Lexington (G3) scorer Gosger likewise has loads of upside going into the stiffest test of his career. The Brendan Walsh pupil stepped up from a Gulfstream Park maiden to take Keeneland's Lexington, the final stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, in his stakes and two-turn debut. Gosger will try to fare better than sire Nyquist, the 2016 Derby champion who lost his perfect record when third in the Preakness.

Gosger steps up and takes the G3 Lexington at Keeneland at 4/1 for trainer @brenpwalsh with @iradortiz in the saddle! 🏆

Fun fact: Gosger has been workmates with East Avenue!

🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/ZFdJyap3lm

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 12, 2025

British shipper Heart of Honor earned a spot in the Kentucky Derby by way of the Euro/Mideast Road, as the near-miss runner-up in the UAE Derby (G2). Trainer Jamie Osborne thought that the tight shipping timetables – from Dubai back to Great Britain and on to Louisville – would be asking too much of the promising colt who’d been busy throughout the Dubai Carnival.

Instead of trying to make the Derby, Heart of Honor was given a chance to freshen up for the Preakness, and hopefully move forward to the Belmont. The well-regarded son of Honor A. P. is still figuring out the game, and his American venture will help to prepare him for lucrative targets in Saudi Arabia and Dubai next winter. The trainer’s daughter Saffie, an accomplished jockey in her own right, will maintain their partnership at Pimlico.

The Preakness often features a local hope, and Pay Billy plays the role this year. Based at Laurel over the winter, the Michael Gorham trainee rolled in the Private Terms S. and the Federico Tesio S. in his past two. The 1 1/8-mile Tesio offers an automatic entry in the Preakness, so Pay Billy has literally paid his way into the field.

You can watch and wager on the Preakness, carded as the 13th race on Saturday, at TwinSpires.com.