Journalism and jockey Umberto Rispoli hit the track together under darkness at about 6:30 a.m. PT March 16. The Curlin colt, trained by Michael McCarthy, was clocked working four furlongs in :48 2/5. He is targeting the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles.
“Very good,” McCarthy said of the drill. Rispoli reacted with a wide grin and a thumbs up.
In the San Felipe (G2) going 1 1/16 miles, Journalism ran down previously unbeaten Barnes in deep stretch and won going away by 1 3/4 lengths with Rispoli aboard. The effort earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, which is tied for the highest posted by a 3-year-old this year.
In this weekend’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager, Journalism opened as the 3-1 favorite and remained the favorite at 5-1 as of Sunday morning.
Journalism has a record of 3-0-1 from four starts with $338,880 in earnings for breeder Don Alberto Stable and co-owners Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, and Robert V. LaPenta. He also won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in December prior to the San Felipe.
Bullard , another graded stakes-winning 3-year-old for McCarthy, worked for the first time in four weeks. The Gun Runner colt was clocked going four furlongs in :48 3/5. Bullard has not started since finishing third in the San Vicente (G2) going seven furlongs Jan. 4. McCarthy called it a “nice work” and added Bullard is also possible to return in the Santa Anita Derby.
“We’re keeping all of our options open,” McCarthy said.
Prior to the San Vicente, Bullard won his debut in September at Del Mar and came back to win the Bob Hope (G3), also at Del Mar, going seven furlongs Nov. 17.
Trainer Bob Baffert’s workers included 3-year-old Madaket Road , multiple stakes winner Casalu and Fort Bragg . Madaket Road sizzled four furlongs in :46 4/5. It was the fastest of 72 works at the distance. In two starts this year, the Quality Road colt finished second in the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park Feb. 23 and was third in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita Feb. 1. He is also part of this weekend’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
Casalu worked four furlongs in :49. In two starts at the Classic Meet, both on grass, the 3-year-old Caracaro filly won the Blue Norther going a mile in December and the Sweet Life Feb. 9 sprinting about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.
Fort Bragg worked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5. The 5-year-old Tapit horse has been off since winning an allowance Dec. 1 at Del Mar. The next graded-stakes sprint at Santa Anita is the San Carlos (G3) going seven furlongs March 29.
Grade 1 winner Kopion worked four furlongs in :48 4/5 for trainer Richard Mandella. Winner of the La Brea (G1) in December and Santa Monica (G2) Feb. 1, both at seven furlongs, Kopion had to miss last weekend’s Beholder Mile (G1) because of illness. The 3-year-old Omaha Beach filly is 4-1-0 from six starts and earned $434,600 for owner Spendthrift Farm.
Grade 1 winner Gold Phoenix continued on the comeback trail for trainer Phil D’Amato with five-furlong work on the training track in 1:02.40. The 6-year-old Belardo gelding has been off since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
There were a combined 244 workouts between the main track and training track.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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