Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners has confirmed that GI Preakness and GI Haskell Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) will make his next start in Saturday’s Pacific Classic at Del Mar. The decision followed Journalism’s five-furlong workout in 1:00 Saturday at Del Mar.
The $1 million race on Aug. 30 will mark Journalism’s first appearance against older horses. The field is expected to include standout older competitors Nysos (Nyquist) and Fierceness (City of Light).
“Putting Journalism on a plane again just wasn’t attractive to us,” said Aron Wellman, managing partner for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. “We’d rather keep him home and have a little bit funkier spacing for the Breeders’ Cup than put him on a plane again.”
The 3-year-old faces the significant challenge of competing against older horses for the first time.
“We think he’s ready for it,” Wellman said. “The top two, Nysos and Fierceness, are awesome older colts. Nysos is extremely accomplished, and he had an ideal build up to the Pacific Classic with a prep in the GII San Diego Handicap July 26. Fierceness is a champion in his own right and ran an incredible race against Sierra Leone in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic last year.”
Wellman emphasized Journalism’s physical development as a key factor in the decision.
“We have a lot of respect for those two individuals. But Journalism is an imposing physical specimen and we think he’s ready to take on older horses. The fact that he’ll get six pounds from those two horses is significant,” he noted.
The distance appears favorable for the Curlin colt, according to connections.
“The distance of the race [10 furlongs] is one that we feel Journalism will excel at, while I think there are some question marks on the other two,” Wellman added. “We’re not taking anything for granted. Journalism has to go out there and do it. We believe this is the right move for the horse and for our partnership. It’s going to be a heavyweight bout for sure.”
