With the deadline for a decision a comfortable few days away, Journalism, a game second in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, remains a candidate for the 150^th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.

Sent off at as the 7-2 favorite in the Derby, Journalism had a troubled trip early and surged to the lead coming off the second turn. He ended up 1 ½ lengths behind Sovereignty following a rousing battle between the two colts in the stretch. Journalism, a son of Curlin, is owned by the partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert V. LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC. The Coolmore partners, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, have acquired the breeding rights for the colt and are lessees.

Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy, remains at Churchill Downs. McCarthy’s staff said that he has come out of the race well. He returned to the track Wednesday and was sent out for his daily exercise Thursday morning. 

“We’re not going to rush into any determination right now. We’re going to keep the Preakness in play,” said Aron Wellman, Eclipse’s president and CEO. “It’s an important American Classic that, whether there’s a Triple Crown on the line or not, holds with it an extreme amount of prestige. We’re going to monitor Journalism to the best of our ability and then make the best decision for the horse at the end of the day. But we’re not saying we’re in and we’re certainly not shutting the door.”

Wellman noted that success in the Preakness has, through the decades, helped lift horses to championships. 

“We think that this is a Classic-caliber colt,” Wellman said. “Even though we’re going back 18 years – which isn’t exactly ancient history – his sire was arguably a less-inspiring third in the Kentucky Derby and came back two weeks later and beat Street Sense in the Preakness. Then he ran incredibly well in the Belmont, came back to run the table, and ultimately won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and was named Horse of the Year. 

“Obviously, those are extremely large shoes to fill. But Journalism is by Curlin, and history has a funny way of repeating itself,” he added. “We’re certainly not going to close our minds to the possibility that he’s capable of that. We hold him in in the highest esteem imaginable. We’re just going to take the next handful of days that we have the luxury of being able to do before entries on Monday and really assess what’s in the best interest of the horse.”

Journalism jogged a mile at Churchill Downs Thursday morning.