Coolmore America and the ownership group of Journalism announced Friday the retirement of the multiple Grade 1 winner after an injury sustained in the stalls prior to his victory in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.
After anticipating the break early, Journalism was caught disadvantaged when the latch sprung, leaving the stalls five to six lengths behind the field. Sustaining an injury in the process, he showed his trademark toughness, circling the field wide and still powering home to victory. Post-race evaluations confirmed the injury and prompted retirement rather than risking his future.
Bred by Don Alberto Corp. and trained by Michael McCarthy, the son of Curlin is out of Mopotism, a Grade 2 winner and multiple Grade 1-placed daughter of Uncle Mo. Highly regarded from the beginning, Journalism capped his juvenile season with a victory in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) before establishing himself as a top-class sophomore with dominant victories in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), the Preakness Stakes, and the Haskell Stakes (G1).
A model of consistency at the highest level, he also produced outstanding performances throughout the Triple Crown, finishing runner-up in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. In his 14 starts, Journalism was never out of the first three home bar a fourth-place finish in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.
