Pimlico was loud. I mean, seriously, "shake the foundation of the old grandstand" loud. On May 17, 2025, the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes didn't just crown a champion; it gave us one of those "did that actually just happen?" moments that horse racing fans live for. The winner of Preakness 2025, a sturdy, gritty colt named Journalism, decided to make everyone in Baltimore hold their breath for about a minute and fifty-five seconds.
It wasn't a clean trip. Not even close.
If you watched the Kentucky Derby two weeks prior, you saw Journalism finish a heartbreaking second to Sovereignty. Most people figured he was the horse to beat at Pimlico, and the bettors agreed, sending him off as the 6-5 favorite. But for a good chunk of the race, it looked like he was going to be the next entry in a long list of "what-ifs."
The Messy Reality of the 150th Preakness Stakes
Early on, it was all about Clever Again. He zipped out to the lead, setting a brisk pace of 23.19 for the first quarter. Journalism, meanwhile, was tucked away in fifth, just sort of chilling on the rail under jockey Umberto Rispoli.
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Then things got weird.
As they hit the far turn, Rispoli tried to find a seam. Instead of a gap, he found a wall of horses. Goal Oriented, trained by Bob Baffert, ducked in and basically body-checked Journalism. It was the kind of contact that usually ends a horse's chances. Journalism stumbled, lost his rhythm, and for a second, it looked like longshot Gosger—who had taken the lead—was going to pull off a massive 15-1 upset.
Honestly, even trainer Michael McCarthy thought it was over. He later admitted he’d resigned himself to another "fantastic effort" that came up short.
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How Journalism Found the Extra Gear
But Journalism is built different. Once he got his feet back under him, he didn't just chase; he surged. It was a relentless, grinding drive down the stretch. He reeled in Gosger in the final jumps to win by a half-length.
- Final Time: 1:55.47
- Winning Payout: $4.00 on a $2 bet
- The Podium: Journalism (1st), Gosger (2nd), Sandman (3rd)
Umberto Rispoli was visibly emotional after the wire. This was his first Triple Crown win, and he was "crying like a kid" in the post-race interview. It’s hard to blame him. Riding a horse that can take a hit like that and still find the will to pass a loose leader is a rare privilege.
Breaking the Favorite’s Jinx
Before Journalism crossed that finish line, favorites had been having a rough time in Baltimore. They had lost eight of the previous nine Preaknesses. The winner of Preakness 2025 finally bucked that trend, becoming the first favorite to win since Justify back in 2018.
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The pedigree was certainly there. Journalism is a son of Curlin, who won this very race in 2007. It's kinda poetic when you think about it—the son returning to the same dirt to reclaim the family legacy.
What This Means for Your Next Bet
If you’re looking at the fallout of this race for future classics, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, don't sleep on Brendan Walsh’s trainees; Gosger ran a massive race for second and proved he belongs with the big boys. Second, Sandman (the horse named after the Metallica song) showed he’s a legitimate closer who just needs a little more distance to be dangerous.
The victory also marked the second Preakness win for Michael McCarthy, who previously won with Rombauer in 2021. He’s proving to be a master at peaking horses for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.
If you're following the 2025 season into the summer, keep an eye on these three takeaways:
- Watch the Replay for Trouble: Always look at the "trip notes." Journalism won despite a disaster on the turn; that usually signals a horse with a much higher ceiling than the speed figure suggests.
- The Curlin Factor: Horses sired by Curlin tend to get better with age and distance. Journalism might be even more formidable as a four-year-old.
- Track Bias Matters: Pimlico's rail was playing fair, but Rispoli’s decision to stay inside nearly cost him. In the Belmont, look for jockeys who aren't afraid to go wide to avoid the "traffic jams" that plagued this field.
Journalism didn't just win a race; he proved that sometimes the "best horse on paper" is also the toughest horse on the track. That’s a rare combination in modern racing.