'We Are Going To The Preakness,' Journalism Co-Owner Says

Aron Wellman, co-owner of the thoroughbred Journalism, says the 3-year-old colt will run in the May 17 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

"We are going to the Preakness," Wellman told Gambling.com on Sunday.

Wellman is president and founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, co-owner of Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism. During the May 3 Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Journalism, the favorite, was passed down the stretch by Sovereignty, the ultimate winner. Journalism finished second. 

Later, Sovereignty jockey Junior Alvarado was fined $62,000 and suspended two days "as the result of excessive crop use during his winning ride" on Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby, the Courier-Journal reported.

Sandman Also In The Preakness

In addition to Journalism, Arkansas Derby winner Sandman will compete in the 150th running of the Preakness on May 17, trainer Mark Casse announced this weekend.

Last week, Sovereignty's team announced the 2025 Kentucky Derby winner would not compete in the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown. Instead, Sovereignty is expected to run in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes in New York.

The decision to hold Sovereignty out of the Preakness sparked a debate about lengthening the wait time between Triple Crown races to give horses more time to recover. The Preakness is two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. The Belmont is three weeks after the Preakness.

With Sovereignty out of the Preakness, 2025 will be another year without a Triple Crown winner. The last was 2018 when Bob Baffert-trained Justify won all three races.

Possible Preakness Contenders

Below is a tentative list of contenders that might run in the $2 million, Grade 1 Preakness this year, compiled from the Courier-Journal and other sources.

List: Horse, trainer, jockey

• American Promise, D. Wayne Lukas, Nik Juarez
• Clever Again, Steve Asmussen, Jose Ortiz
• Goal Oriented, Bob Baffert, Flavien Prat
• Gosger, Brendan Walsh, Luis Saez
• Heart of Honor, Jamie Osborne, Saffie Osborne
• Journalism, Michael McCarthy, Umberto Rispoli
• Pay Billy, Michael Gorham, Raul Mena
• River Thames, Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr.
• Sandman, Mark Casse, TBD

2025 Preakness Schedule, TV Times

• TV: NBC, Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app
• Location: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland
• Date: Saturday, May 17
• Post time: 6:50 p.m. ET (TV coverage from 2 p.m. ET)

Source: Fox Sports

2025 Triple Crown Schedule

The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown.

• The Kentucky Derby: Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, May 3
• The Preakness Stakes: Pimlico, Baltimore, Maryland, May 17
• The Belmont Stakes: Saratoga*, New York, June 7

*Note: This race is being held in Saratoga as work continues on a  $550 million upgrade at Belmont Park in Elmont on Long Island, just east of New York City.