Journalism won the US$500,000 Santa Anita Derby by three-quarters of a length Saturday to confirm his status as the Kentucky Derby favourite, with trainer Bob Baffert's duo finishing fourth and fifth in the West Coast's major prep.
Journalism stamped himself as the favourite for the 151st running of the Derby on May 3. He overcame some trouble in the race and put away Citizen Bull, last year's 2-year-old champion, for his fourth straight win.
Journalism got shuffled behind Westwood and bumped with Barnes at the seven-sixteenths pole before moving into the clear and going three-wide into the stretch in front of 34,312 at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Journalism ran 1 1/8-miles in 1:49.56. Sent off as the even-money favourite.
Baeza finished second and 40-1 shot Westwood was third. Both are trained by John Shirreffs.
The Baffert-trained Citizen Bull and Barnes finished fourth and last, respectively.
