In a dramatic finish at Pimlico Race Course, Journalism surged through traffic to win the 150th Preakness Stakes on Saturday, capping a thrilling second leg of the Triple Crown.
After finishing second to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby, the odds-on favorite appeared poised for another near miss when bumped by Goal Oriented near the quarter pole. But Journalism recovered swiftly, overtaking Gosger down the stretch to secure a half-length victory.
The win marked trainer Michael McCarthy’s second in a Triple Crown race and continued his perfect record in the Preakness, having won in his only other appearance in 2021. Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli made history as the first from his country to win a U.S. Triple Crown race.
Journalism completed the 1 3/16 miles in 1:55.37, navigating a drying track that had endured a week of rain. He paid \$4 to win, \$2.80 to place, and \$2.40 to show.
Gosger finished second, followed by Sandman in third and Bob Baffert’s Goal Oriented in fourth.
Absent from the race was Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, whose connections opted to skip the Preakness in favor of more rest before the Belmont Stakes on June 7. That decision meant, for the fifth time in seven years, no Triple Crown bid was at stake in Baltimore.
Journalism’s gutsy performance nonetheless left a lasting impression, staking his claim as the leading 3-year-old in the country. The victory also made him the first horse since War of Will in 2019 to win the Preakness after running in the Derby.
Saturday’s race was the final Preakness at the historic Pimlico before reconstruction begins. During the rebuild, the 2026 and 2027 editions are expected to be held at Laurel Park.
Source: ESPN