Will Journalism Run In The Preakness? Decision Expected Within Days

A decision will be made on Monday whether to run Journalism in the May 17 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore, according to a co-owner.

Aron Wellman, president and founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, co-owners of Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism, told Gambling com on Friday the team will decide on Monday, May 12, whether to enter the 3-year-old colt in the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown. 

Earlier this week, the team behind Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty announced the Bill Mott-trained thoroughbred would not compete in the Preakness but instead will aim for 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 in 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 by the Courier-Journal.

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.

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.