Journalism Owners Chase Triple Crown Success Again

While there are thousands of partnerships formed each year in Thoroughbred racing, only a handful, if any, experience the euphoric thrill of Triple Crown success. Back in 2015, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, and Robert LaPenta came together to buy a $1.2 million son of Tapit at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale. Named Tapwrit, after finishing a troubled sixth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), the colt brought the trio of owners the unbridled joy of winning the 2017 Belmont Stakes (G1), the final and longest leg of the Triple Crown. Eight years later at the 2023 The Saratoga Sale, Eclipse president and founder Aron Wellman was enthralled with a big, fluid son of Curlin that had classic potential stamped all over him. He had already secured Bridlewood as a partner to bid on the precocious yearling, but with some concerns that the price could go as high as $1 million, he wanted at least one more partner. "I thought we'd put the band back together," Wellman said. So, he approached LaPenta, bought the colt for $825,000 from the Denali Stud consignment, and two years later, the trio of partners are once again chasing Triple Crown glory. There are a few more partners along for the ride this time, but the group that struck gold with Tapwrit is now trying to beat the lofty Triple Crown odds again. In a big change from when Tapwrit was a 27-1 shot in the Run for the Roses, they are the owners of Journalism, the 3-year-old winner of four straight races and the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the May 3 151st edition of the $5 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. "We feel very fortunate to be in the position we are in," Wellman said. "Only a select few owners have been fortunate enough to have (the morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby). It's awesome. It's what everyone is in the game for." Also owned by breeder Don Alberto Stable, Elayne Stable 5, and the Coolmore team through a stallion deal with Ashford Stud, Journalism will be trying to end a slide of six straight beaten favorites in the Run for the Roses and return the race to 2013-18 when six favorites won without interruption. Based on his last four starts that just might happen. After finishing third in a six-furlong Oct. 27 maiden sprint at Santa Anita Park in the colt's debut, trainer Michael McCarthy shifted the son of the Uncle Mo mare Mopotism to two-turn starts and Journalism has yet to look back. He established himself as the West Coast's top 3-year-old by reeling off a trio of graded stakes wins, capped by a determined score in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). Now, in about two minutes' time Saturday, his dominance can expand to a much bigger chunk of territory. "The last few years have been rough for my stable. But Journalism has rejuvenated everyone and created so much excitement," said LaPenta, who owned Dialed In, the beaten favorite in the 2011 Kentucky Derby, and Ice Box, who was second in the 2010 edition. "This guy is the real deal. They call him 'The Best of the West.' If he's as good as he can be on Saturday, he'll be 'The Best of the Rest.'" Of his four wins, the April 5 Santa Anita Derby was the gem. In a small field of five, Journalism and jockey Umberto Rispoli were in deep water on the final turn as the even-money favorite was pinned down on the rail and shuffled back on the final turn. There was bumping as Rispoli managed to tip out the Curlin colt, who surged to the lead in the final furlong and won going away by three-quarters of a length over Baeza. "We wouldn't want to trade places with anyone," said George Isaacs, general manager of Leslie and John Malone's Bridlewood Farm. "We got a good post position (8). Now we have to hope he breaks well and gets a good trip. If he does, it should be a lot of fun." Considering how he has faced just four rivals in four of his five starts, the education he received in the Santa Anita Derby could pay a dividend Saturday against 19 rivals in the famed mile-and-a-quarter opening leg of the Triple Crown. "He continued to validate his prowess in the Santa Anita Derby and prove he is a superior horse." Wellman said. "We knew he would have a target on his back in a small field and he did and rightfully so. They didn't make his life easy but the Kentucky Derby is going to be a more significant challenge. So, even though it was a small field, it was a great experience and very encouraging to see him overcome some adversity." The events that fueled this latest Triple Crown chase date back to 2019 when owner Don Alberto Farm bought the multiple grade 1-placed mare Mopotism for $1,050,000 at Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale. Don Alberto chief operating officer of United States operations Reed Ringler said his team was familiar with Mopotism from running against their star filly Unique Bella and loved her bloodlines as a daughter of Uncle Mo out of the Bernardini mare Peppy Rafaela. "She was a tough filly, who always tried," Ringler said about Mopotism. "She was an iron horse." Her first mating was with Curlin and produced a big colt who showed a world of promise from his earliest days. "For a first foal, he was a monster. He had a big head and ears and I was hoping he would grow into it," Ringler said. "He was 153 pounds when he was born. He had a voracious appetite and that hasn't stopped. He wants to eat, sleep, and run. He's always been a superman." A decision was made to enter Journalism in the Saratoga sale but after talking with Carlos Heller, the son of Don Alberto owner Liliana Solari, they planned to buy a share of the colt from the new owners. "We will identify a few of the horses going to the sale, and if Carlos Heller loves any of them and we get the opportunity to stay in, we will. We felt he had stallion potential and we always had a world of confidence in this horse," Ringler said. "He has such a great mind. Saratoga can be a bit of a circus. It's sort of like the Kentucky Derby of sales. But we were positive he would go up there and handle everything well and not get physically or mentally tired." Meanwhile, Isaacs and Wellman were comparing shopping lists for the Saratoga sale. The No. 1 choice for both of them was Don Alberto's Curlin colt out of Mopotism. "You expect to see the cream of the crop in terms of pedigree and conformation at Saratoga," Wellman said. "He had all the credentials on paper and lived up to that and then some in the flesh. He's a very well-balanced, well-put-together colt. He had good size and was light on his feet and moved very well. You see the intangibles like his presence, quality, intelligence and class and all of that shined through and has aided his physical constitution. He is such a smart horse." After conferring with farm trainer Joan "Meda" Murphy, Isaacs also had his sight set on Journalism. "We only want to buy horses we love and 'Meda' really liked him, so both we and Aron both landed on Journalism. He was our top draft pick," Isaacs said. "We felt confident we could buy the horse and honestly thought we might have to go a bid or two higher. We were lucky to get him for the price we paid. Things usually work out for a reason and so far it has worked out very well." Bridlewood and Eclipse have partnered on about 30 horses, so it didn't take long for them to pool their money after comparing notes. "We have a great relationship with Aron and Eclipse," Isaacs said. "Aron is a consummate professional. He works the sales hard with his team." For old time's sake, LaPenta, who currently has about 10 horses in partnership with Eclipse, also came aboard, and later Wellman added the Elyane Stables 5 of Elayne Herrick. Journalism was not at the top of LaPenta's shopping list, but past success and enjoyment in working with Eclipse and Bridlewood prompted him to come aboard. A winning $825,000 bid later, the prize colt was theirs. "He sold for about what we expected," Ringler said. After Ringler and Wellman talked, Don Alberto once again was an owner of Journalism, a move that has paid off handsomely. "We were ecstatic to stay in on this colt. Aron was gracious enough to ask us if we wanted to stay in and we were thrilled to do it," Ringler said. "To have bred him, raised him, and stay with him every step of the way is very special for us." Also helping in the decision-making process for Don Alberto, it was Mopotism's first foal. That gave Don Alberto a chance to benefit from Journalism's success when selling her future progeny for big tickets. That has surely proven to be the case as a 2-year-old Tapit half brother to Journalism sold for $1.5 million at the Saratoga sale last year to Flying Dutchmen. Named Nitro Tap, he is with trainer Brian Lynch. Mopotism also has a yearling Into Mischief filly and delivered a Flightline filly April 30. Ringler saw the wisdom in retaining a share of Journalism when he saw the colt in Ocala, Fla., early in his 2-year-old season. "It was a 'Wow' moment to see him," he said. "You always hope they are going to grow into that Michael Jordan frame and he surely has." Buying Journalism has paid off for all involved as prior to the Santa Anita Derby, his stallion rights were sold to the Ashford/Coolmore group of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. As is normal for a deal consummated at that point in a colt's career, the deal contained financial kickers or payoffs for winning certain races or awards. There was a hefty bonus for a grade 1 win and an even bigger one awaits if Journalism can deliver as the favorite on the first Saturday in May. "The quandary all of us big-colt owners have is when you have a prospect like him, they become very valuable and it costs a lot of money to insure them," Isaacs said. "So, it makes sense to take some of the risk off the table while getting paid very fairly along with kicker provisions. This way, you are not leaving much money on the table. You're positioned to do well while taking some serious risk off the table. As a sportsman, I would been fine with going a little further and letting it ride, but we all decided that it was best to take the deal." All that remains now is the stress and pressure that comes with being the favorite for the Kentucky Derby. LaPenta, though, has something else weighing on him. He has been battling back pain that has limited his ability to walk a long distance. That could complicate getting to the winner's circle. But should Journalism prevail, LaPenta will be there. Suffice it to say, winning the Kentucky Derby is a hell of a way to put pain out of your mind. "If things go our way and we win the Kentucky Derby, I will be in the winner's circle," LaPenta said. "I'll find a way. Even if they have to put me on their shoulders and carry me. I'll be there."