Preakness Stakes winner Journalism will race subsequent yr earlier than he retires to stud at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud, based on Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Companions, one of many colt’s co-owners.
The choice to race in 2026 was extensively anticipated after Coolmore didn’t point out Journalism in a Nov. 4 press launch noting charges for its new sires — Citizen Bull, Fierceness, and Sierra Leone.
Journalism, a 3-year-old son of Curlin, raced for house owners Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Steady, Eclipse Thoroughbred Companions, Elayne Stables 5, and Robert LaPenta by means of March earlier than the Coolmore-affiliated Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith joined as companions.
“As of proper now, our intention is to freshen him up at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, deliver him again to [trainer] Michael McCarthy towards the start of subsequent season, and produce him again for an American marketing campaign,” Wellman mentioned, whereas noting abroad races had not completely been dominated out at this stage.
Journalism, a three-time Grade 1 winner in 2025, is extensively considered the second-best dust 3-year-old in North America, trailing solely Godolphin’s Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve, Belmont Stakes Introduced by NYRA Bets, and DraftKings Travers Stakes winner Sovereignty. The latter is all however sure to win the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male and really doubtless essentially the most coveted prize of Horse of the 12 months when these championships are introduced at a ceremony Jan. 22 in South Florida, two days earlier than the Jan. 24 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.
An announcement by Godolphin clarifying Sovereignty’s racing standing for 2026 has not but been made. Though he’s a extremely helpful stallion prospect, races such because the $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 28could entice his connections to proceed racing him. Godolphin’s founder, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, is the ruler of Dubai and the creator of the Dubai World Cup.
Journalism, fourth in his most up-to-date begin within the Nov. 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional at Del Mar, overwhelmed by 3 3/4 lengths, will face an older-horse division subsequent yr depleted by latest retirements. Though Breeders’ Cup Traditional hero Ceaselessly Younger will race in 2026, others from the race won’t. Runner-up Sierra Leone, third-place Fierceness, and fifth-place Mindframe — all 4-year-olds of 2025 — enter stud subsequent yr, the latter at Claiborne Farm.
Ceaselessly Younger, based mostly in Japan, is anticipated to make his first begin of 2026 within the $20 million Saudi Cup in February.
In describing the choice to race Journalism at 4, Wellman mentioned. “He’s a horse bred, constructed, and designed to get higher with age. He’s had an extremely hearty marketing campaign on the highest degree, confirmed up each time, didn’t take his observe with him. He’s a three-time Grade 1 winner, a basic winner. His résumé speaks for itself. However we nonetheless have conviction that the most effective is but to come back. Our plan is to showcase him on American soil, hopefully win some main races and improve his already immense worth as a stallion prospect.”
Journalism, skilled in Southern California by McCarthy, has six wins, three seconds, and one third in 11 begins with earnings of $4,348,880. He gained 4 of eight races this yr, incomes $4,190,000. 5 of his six profession victories have been in graded stakes.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Companions — headed by Wellman, its president and founder — purchased Journalism in 2023 for $825,000 from the Denali Stud consignment at Fasig-Tipton’s The Saratoga Sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Don Alberto Company bred Journalism out of the a number of Grade 1-placed graded stakes winner Mopotism, who Don Alberto purchased for $1.05 million throughout Fasig-Tipton’s November Sale in 2019 out of Kingswood Farm’s consignment.
Mopotism died at age 11 in July; Journalism is her first of 4 foals.
