Tag: Horse Racing

150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico: Journalism was the favorite going into Preakness

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Jockey Umberto Rispoli rides Journalism is all fired up as he edges out Jockey Luis Saez riding Gosger in the 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

After taking second place in the Kentucky Derby, Journalism charged to the finish line and won the 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday evening.

Journalism came down the stretch from behind for a thrilling finish over eight other horses in the second leg of the Triple Crown. The three-year-old colt passed Gosger, who finished as the runner-up a half-length behind. Journalism entered with 8-5 odds and won the $2 million race in 1:55:37, while Sandman took third.

It was jockey Umberto Rispoli’s first victory in a Triple Crown race and he became the first from Italy to achieve the feat.

“I couldn’t sleep for four nights after the Derby. But today, I had faith in my horse. I waited 20 years for a moment like this, and it was worth every second,’ said Rispoli. “I wish everybody over there (in Italy) are proud of me.”

Rispoli fully credited Journalism for the victory.

“I still can’t realize what this horse did,” he said. “It’s all about him. It’s a pleasure and privilege to ride a horse like him.”

Journalism delivered the second Preakness win for his trainer, Michael McCarthy, who last won with Rombauer in 2021.

“A lot of bouncing around there. When I saw that, I kind of resigned myself to the fact it was another fantastic effort and maybe come up a little bit short,” said McCarthy. “But it just goes to show the testament that this horse has. Couldn’t be prouder of him.”

Journalism’s co-owner, Aron Wellman, called the horse, Rispoli and McCarthy all champions.

Though Journalism came up short in the Derby, he was still the favorite for the Preakness.

The Derby winner, Sovereignty, did not run in the Preakness after his trainer withdrew him due to the two-week turnaround between the races. It marked the fifth time in seven years that there was no chance for a true Triple Crown winner.

However, there will be a possible rematch between Journalism and Sovereignty in the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, which will take place on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course.

Preakness Stakes 2025 finishing order:

1. Journalism (EVEN) – 1:55.47

2. Gosger (15-1) – ½ lengths behind

3. Sandman (6-1) – 2¾

4. Goal Oriented (8-1) – 6¾

5. Heart of Honor (20-1) – 8¾

6. River Thames (9-1) – 11½

7. Pay Billy (11-1) – 16½

8. American Promise (9-1) – 18¼

Preakness Pimlico Race Course A Big Come Back For Journalism

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Umberto Rispoli jockeys Journalism (2) to victory at the 150th Preakness Stakes Baltimore (AP News photo)

By Michael Villanueva

On May 17, 2025, at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Journalism won the 150th Preakness Stakes in an exciting demonstration of willpower and planning. Journalism, ridden by Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli and trained by Michael McCarthy, overcame early obstacles to secure the victory in the closing stages, completing the 1 3/16-mile race in 1:55.37.

Journalism started the race in the middle of the pack, where he was bumped and pushed by rivals. However, Journalism stormed ahead and defeated longshot Gosger by half a length as Rispoli maneuvered a tiny gap down the barrier. Sandman completed the top three finishers with third place.

This win was an unforgettable turning point for the jockey and the horse. Rispoli became the first jockey born in Italy to win a Triple Crown race, and it was his first victory overall. In addition to his remarkable career achievements, trainer Michael McCarthy celebrated winning his second Preakness title.

Since Sovereignty, the winner of the Kentucky Derby, chose not to enter the Preakness, there was no chance of a Triple Crown winner this year. Journalism, who had placed second in the Derby, took advantage of the situation and became just the fourth Derby runner-up to win the Preakness since 1961.

Given it being the last race carried out at the legendary Pimlico Race Course before the course’s scheduled $400 million renovation, the 2025 Preakness Stakes also had historical significance. The venue’s rich history in horse racing was honored with heartfelt farewells from pros and fans. It is believed that the newly renovated Pimlico Race Course will be finished by 2027, and the Preakness Stakes and other well-known races will return at the restored course.”

151st Kentucky Derby: Sovereignty wins 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs

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Sovereignty ridden by jockey Junior Alvarado crosses the finish line to win the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville on Sat May 3, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

Sovereignty reigned supreme as the winner of the 151st Kentucky Derby on a muddy and chilly day at Churchill Downs in Louisville on Saturday evening.

The three-year-old colt pulled ahead of Journalism, who was the favorite, in the final stretch of the first leg of the Triple Crown and crossed the finish line in 2:02.31. Journalism started off smoothly but soon fell 10 lengths off the lead, and regained the spot at the head of the pack in the last stretch only to be overtaken by Sovereignty.

Sovereignty, who entered with 7-1 odds, left Journalism in second place, followed by Baeza in third, on the running that had unfavorable conditions with showers all day. It was not raining during the race. Sovereignty netted $17.96 for the victory, $7.50 for place and $5.58 for show.

It was the second victory for trainer Bill Mott, who won in 2019 with Country Horse. The colt came in second but was crowned after Maximum Security was disqualified due to interference.

“This one got there the right way,” Mott said of Sovereignty. “He’s done well; he’s a great horse. He comes from a great organization.”

Mott added that the Derby wins “were both exciting” and “we were thrilled with the last one and this one was equally or more special”.

Jockey Junior Alvarado notched his first win and took home $3.1 million. He and Sovereignty received a standing ovation from spectators in the grandstands.

“It’s more than even a dream come true,” he said. “It means the world to me. My family’s here. I thought I had a great chance. I’m pretty sure they’re way over the moon right now.”

Alvarado praised Sovereignty’s loyalty to him, mentioning that the colt stuck with him even though he was injured for five weeks and could not ride. The injury set Alvarado back three weeks.

Controversial trainer Bob Baffert returned to the Derby after a three-year suspension and had Citizen Bull in the running, but his best chance, Rodriguez, scratched.

The crowd numbered 147,406, which was just short of the record that was set in 2015.

A total of $5 million was shared among the winners.

The next leg of the Triple Crown is the Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.

Here are the top five finishers of the Kentucky Derby 2025:

1. Sovereignty (7-1)

2. Journalism (3-1)

3. Baeza (13-1)

4. Final Gambit (17-1)

5. Owen Almighty (40-1)

Jessica Kwong is covering the Triple Crown Horse races for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

156th Belmont Stakes: Dornoch gets an upset victory; Beats the 17-1 odds

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Dornoch (6) with jockey Luis Saez crosses the finish line ahead of Mindframe (10) to win the 156th annual Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Springs NY on Sat Jun 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

A World Series champion’s colt, Dornoch, pulled off an upset victory in the 156th Belmont Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course on Saturday evening.

Co-owned by former MLB All-Star Jayson Werth, Dornoch entered the final leg of the Triple Crown with 17-1 odds.

Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Grey took an early lead over Dornoch and Mindframe, one of the favorites in the race, heading to the backstretch.

Dornoch broke at a good pace from the gate and was head-to-head with Seize the Grey at the end of the backstretch.

But Seize the Grey could not sustain the pace and Dornoch took the lead, with Mindframe and fellow favorite Sierra Leone making charges that fell short.

Dornoch crossed the finish line by a half length ahead of his competitors.

“I never lost faith in him,” said Dornoch’s jockey Luis Saez, who notched his second Belmont Stakes victory after winning with Essential Quality three years ago.

“When I rode this horse last year here in Saratoga for the first time, I told Danny, ‘You have a Derby winner.’ But unfortunately, you know, the Derby is a crazy race and we drew that No. 1 hole. Today we had pretty good confidence that we could win this race. Thank God we got it.”

It was trainer Danny Gargan’s first Belmont Stakes win, as it was for Werth, who is co-owner of West Paces Racing.

Gargan called Dornoch “one of the top three horses in the country”.

“We’ve always thought it,” he said. “Today we let him run his race and he won. If he gets to run, he’s always gonna be tough to beat.”

With the victory, Werth takes home $2 million.

“I would put it right up there with winning on the biggest stage. Horse racing is the most underrated sport in the world, bar none,” said Werth, who won the World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.

“It’s the biggest game: You get the Derby, the Preakness, the Belmont. We just won the Belmont. This is as good as it gets in horse racing. It’s as good as it gets in sports.”

Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan posed no threat in the race.

Three different horses won the three races of the Triple Crown this year.

Here is the finishing order for the 156th Belmont Stakes:

1. Dornoch

2. Mindframe

3. Sierra Leone

4. Honor Marie

5. Antiquarian

6. Protective

7. Seize the Grey

8. Mystik Dan

9. The Wine Steward

10. Resilience

Preakness: Seize the Grey beats out Mystic Dan for top prize at Preakness

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Jockey Jaime Torres rides Seize the Grey is thrilled to win the Preakness Stakes ahead of second place finisher Mystic Dan who had won the Kentucky Derby in the previous race. (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

Seize the Grey held off the Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan to win the 2024 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Sunday.

Mystik Dan and Imagination both had good starts. Mystik Dan made a late push in the quest to win the second Triple Crown but could not overtake Seize the Grey.

Seize the Grey made it a lucky day for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who notched his seventh Preakness win. Lukas now ties Robert Wyndham Walden for second all-time. Lukas, at 88 years old, also became the oldest trainer to win the Triple Crown.

“It never gets old at this level,” said Lukas. “I love the competition. I love to get in here with the rest of them. There were a bunch of good guys in this race. It’s a shame we can’t all win.”

Lukas joked that his Preakness win would prompt some of his colleagues to tell him to quit and consider it a career.

“I think they’re trying to get rid of me,” Lukas said. “I think they want me to retire. That’ll never happen.”

Mystik Dan’s trainer Kenny McPeek was said that his horse couldn’t pull through, but congratulated Lukas.

“Wayne’s a great guy,” said McPeek. “He’s a guy I’ve always idolized. If I’m gonna get beat, it’s fine to get beat by him. In fact, over the years, I’ve been beaten by him plenty of times.”

The top three finishers, with Catching Freedom coming in third, all ran at Churchill Downs a couple weeks ago.

A $2 bet on Seize the Grey paid out $21.60. A $2 exacta bet on Seize the Grey finishing first and Mystik Dan finishing second paid out $119.40. And a $1 trifecta bet with Seize the Grey, Mystik Dan and Catching Freedom paid out $183.70.

Preakness Stakes 2024 finishing order:

1. Seize the Grey

2. Mystik Dan

3. Catching Freedom

4. Tuscan Gold

5. Just Steel

6. Uncle Heavy

7. Imagination

8. Mugatu

Golden Gate Fields podcast with Augie Mesenburg: After extension is this it for Golden Gate Field race track

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Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze, right, riding Two Step Cat crosses the finish line to win his 10,000th race at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif., Jan. 1, 2008. Golden Gate Fields announced that it has extended horse racing and instead of closing in October 2023 will close July 2024. (AP file photo)

Horse Racing podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

#1 Augie, how encouraging has it got to be for horse racing fans, employees, and front office staff that Golden Gate Fields in Albany/Berkeley has extended it time instead of closing up shop in October extending it to June?

#2 Augie, I know I asked you off the air but is there anyway you see that Golden Gate Fields can avoid closing it’s doors permanently or is 1st Racing set on closing the long time track down.

#3 Aidan Butler the Chief Executive of Golden Fields said the track will be applying for race track dates for the summer of 2024.

#4 Butler and First Racing said it’s certain that July will be the last month of horse racing at Golden Gate Fields if there is no miracle to save the track.

#5 Augie, you had the chance to work with everyone at the track over the years the jockeys, trainers, owners, fans, front office people and from their perspective how surprising did this news come and how dependent are the employees on working at Golden Gate Fields?

Augie Mesenburg was a former employee at Golden Gate Fields and is a business representative for the Golden Gate union employees

Baffert horse Corniche wins Breeders Cup at Del Mar

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Corniche crosses the finish line with Jockey Mike Smith at the Breeders Cup at Del Mar on Fri Nov 5, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

Corniche, trained by embattled trainer Bob Baffert, on Friday won the Breeders’ Cup $2 million Juvenile, becoming a horse to watch for next year’s Kentucky Derby.

On the opening day of the 38th Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in California, jockey Mike Smith led Corniche to a 1 3/4-length victory.

Smith guided Corniche to break from the outside in the pack of 11 horses and did not give up the lead in completing the 1-1/16 miles in 1:42.50.

The jockey said he was mostly concerned with how warm Corniche was before the race.

“The only thing I was worried about was that he got hotter than he ever had. It just made me get calmer,” Smith said. “I don’t think I have ever been so calm in a big race. I just sat really still, he caught a flyer leaving the gate and I just left him alone.”

Corniche, the 7-5 favorite, earned his third victory in three attempts and positioned himself as an early favorite for the 2022 Derby.

Baffert said he knew from the 11th hole that Smith was going to have to push Corinche harder than usual.

“Mike is a great rider. I love him on a horse like that,” said Baffert, who won his 18th Breeders’ Cup and fifth Juvenile.

While all eyes are now on Corniche, it remains to be seen who will prepare him for the Derby. Baffert is banned from the race for two years after his Derby winner this year, Medina Spirit, came back with a positive drug test. Corniche would not be able to earn points to qualify for the Derby if trained by Baffert.

Pappacap, a 15-1 longshot, came in second with jockey Joe Bravo, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Giant Game, also a longshot.

Giant Game’s trainer Dale Romans said he thought they would win the Juvenile, but congratulated Corniche.

“Congratulations to the winner. It was a big race by him,” Romans said. “It’s hard to beat Bob on his home court.”

The Breeders’ Cup continues for its second day on Saturday.

Belmont Stakes: Essential Quality was the sure bet holds off runner up Hot Rod Charlie

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Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr crosses the finish line with winning horse Essential Quality to win the 128th Metropolitan horse race at the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park NY on Sat Jun 5, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The Belmont Stakes favorite, Essential Quality, won the 153rd running of the third and final leg of the Triple Crown on Saturday evening.

Essential Quality overtook the early leader, Hot Rod Charlie, in the final turn and held him off until the finish line and won the $1 million race.

“That was a long way around there a mile a half but it was exciting,” Cox said. “It looked like the horse on the inside, he still had run left. I knew it was going to be a battle down the line.”

Hot Rod Charlie finished second while the 146th Preakness Stakes champion, Rombauer, finished third.

Essential Quality gave his trainer Brad Cox his first Triple Crown victory. His jockey Luis Saez also won a Triple Crown race for the first time.

Saez said Belmont was his “second home” and that this was the race I wanted to win.”

Cox said that Saez “did a fantastic job of getting him in position turning for home and he was able to really show his stamina late.”

The race did not include Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, after the horse failed a drug test after the Derby. Medina Spirit’s trainer, Bob Baffert, has been suspended from the Derby for two years, it was announced on Wednesday. In addition, the New York Racing Association temporarily suspended Baffert from entering any races this month at the track that hosts the Belmont Stakes.

A limited crowd of 11,000 people attended the race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, and were required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test.

Called the “Test of the Champion,” it is the oldest event in the Triple Crown and also the longest, at 1½ miles, or 12 furlongs.

Here is the 2021 Belmont Stakes finish order:

1 Essential Quality

2 Hot Rod Charlie

3 Rombauer

4 Known Agenda

5 Bourbonic

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146th Preakness Steaks: Rombauer out hustles Midnight Bourbon

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Rombauer the winning horse crossing the finish line at the 146th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Sat May 15, 2021 (photo from @PreaknessStakes)

By Jessica Kwong

Rombauer outran Midnight Bourbon and controversy stricken Kentucky Derby victor Medina Spirit to win the 146th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday evening.

Medina Spirit had appeared likely to win the second leg of the Triple Crown after taking first place at Churchill Downs two weeks ago, which was tainted by a positive test for a steroid post-race.

Both Medina Spirit and Midnight Bourbon, the early favorite, broke well early and Medina Spirit led into the first turn. Midnight Bourbon took over the lead as the horses went into the frontstretch. However, Rombauer made a late charge in the final yards and claimed victory by four lengths.

Rombauer, ridden by jockey Flavien Prat, finished in 1:53.62 and paid $25.60 on a $2 bet to win. Midnight Bourbon, at 3-1 odds, came in second while Medina Spirit, at 2-1 odds, finished third.

It was Prat’s second victory in a Triple Crown race. Prat won the Kentucky Derby in 2019 riding Country House, after Maximum Security was disqualified due to interference, so Saturday was a different feeling for him.

“There’s so much history behind these races, and to win one is great, and to win the Preakness is even better,” said Prat.

Rombauer’s trainer Michael McCarthy captured the honor in just his first appearance in the Preakness and said he was “so proud of this horse, everybody involved.”

“It just goes to show you that small players in the game can be successful as well,” McCarthy said.

Medina Spirit’s trainer Bob Baffert in a statement before the race on Saturday reiterated that his colt’s Kentucky Derby victory was “the result of the horse’s tremendous heart and nothing else” and that ‘there was never any attempt to game or cheat the system.” Medina Spirit cleared three rounds of drug testing on Friday heading into the Preakness.

Here is the Preakness 2021 finishing order:

1.Rombauer

2.Midnight Bourbon

3.Medina Spirit

4. Keepmeinmind

5. Crowded Trade

Kentucky Derby: Baffert couldn’t believe his eyes on Madina Spirit win

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Its a photo finish for Madina Spirit at the Kentucky Derby at Church Downs on Sat May 1, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

Medina Spirit made history at the 147th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday with an upset that gave trainer Bob Baffert his record seventh win in “The Run for the Roses.”

The yearling only had the sixth best odds in the race at 12-1 but took an early lead. Essential Quality, the favorite at 3-1 odds, was well off the lead early but started closing in at the half-mile mark, along with Hot Rod Charlie with odds at 5-1. Essential Quality started making the move from fifth at the three-quarter mile mark, but Medina Spirit maintained the lead. Medina Spirit also held off a late charge from Mandaloun, who finished in second place followed by Hot Rod Charlie.

Medina Spirit crossed the finish line at 2:01:02, with jockey John Velazquez. His victory was a shock to his trainer.

“I knew he was training well, but I’m really, really surprised,” Baffert said. “When I saw him on the easy lead, I kept waiting for these horses to come at him, but Johnny had him in a perfect spot. If you have him on the lead, he’ll fight.”

Baffert is the only trainer with seven Kentucky Derby wins.

Medina Spirit also boosted Velazquez’s career as one of the best jockeys in the sport. His name may sound familiar, as he won the 2020 race in September riding Authentic. Velazquez has won four Kentucky Derbys and is one of only seven jockeys to win consecutive ones.

“I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d win four Derbys,” Velazquez said. “I never look at the numbers … I just want to come and do my job.”

The $3 million purse is distributed among the top five finishers. Medina Spirit earned $1.86 million, Mandaloun got $600,000, Hot Rod Charlie received $300,000 and Essential Quality took $100,000.

Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, typically draws more than 150,000 people for the race that is part of the Triple Crown. Due to the pandemic, the attendance this year was just 51,838. Last year, the race was run without spectators.

Here’s the Kentucky Derby 2021 finish order:

1 – Medina Spirit

2 – Mandaloun

3 – Hot Rod Charlie

4 – Essential Quality

5 – O Besos