Journalism Adds Rivalry Juice to the Triple Crown with Historic Win

by:Nick Roush•05/19/25•

RoushKSR

Journalism wins a remarkable Preakness Stakes, via Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

The dream of a 2025 Triple Crown winner died just days after the Kentucky Derby, but a breathtaking Preakness Stakes win by Journalism is giving horse racing a much-needed win ahead of the Belmont Stakes.

Despite a loss on a sloppy Churchill Downs track, Journalism has been the best three-year-old horse all year. He proved that in an unforgettable Preakness.

Riding alongside the rail at Pimlico Race Course, Journalism ran into a wall of horses while going around the final turn. Umberto Rispoli made a bold decision, one might say an ill-advised decision, to hold his ground and shoot the gap. He probably had enough horse to go three-wide and still win the race. Instead, Journalism took a bump while sandwiched in between Goal Oriented and Clever Again.

Larry Collmus had the same thought as all of us. Journalism looked cooked. Somehow, some way, the horse still had enough in the tank to recover and win the race. “He might even win it!”

Larry Collmus was blown away watching Journalism’s incredible Preakness win! #Preakness150 pic.twitter.com/4LzUl1WeSi
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 18, 2025

It was the kind of improbable performance you read about, but don’t ever see. It drew flashback’s to Afleet Alex’s 2005 stumble, where the horse was somehow able to stay on his feet and win the Preakness Stakes.

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How did he do it? Journalism took a hard bump, and yet still finished his final furlong in 12.3 seconds. It was more than a second faster than his penultimate furlong (13.44). Unfathomable.

That’s the kind of race that captivates the country. You just don’t see stuff like this in horse racing. More importantly, it sets the stage for a rematch.

Journalism is already on his way to Saratoga to prepare for the Belmont Stakes. That’s where Sovereignty awaits. They’ve been the two best horses all year. Sovereignty had more in the tank during their first duel. Journalism delivered drama in the Preakness. It will feel like a Triple Crown is on the line when this rivalry resumes on June 7.