![\"Journalism](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Rispoli2-1024x794.jpg\")
UMBERTO RISPOLI, JOURNALISM \/ G1 Haskell Invitational \/\/ Monmouth Park \/\/\/ 2025 \/\/\/\/ Photo by Equi-Photo\/Bill Denver courtesy of Monmouth Park<\/p>\nJournalism\u2019s win last weekend in the G2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar was the latest marker of significance in a topsy-turvy 12 months of assorted emotions for jockey Umberto Rispoli, and a moment that embodied the wise old phrase \u2018let bygones be bygones.\u2019<\/p>\n
Rispoli, Journalism\u2019s trainer Michael McCarthy and the colt\u2019s quite extensive ownership group, have done just that. The Italian was famously shunted off the G1 Preakness Stakes winner ahead of last autumn\u2019s Breeders\u2019 Cup, after the colt had placed second in the G1 Pacific Classic. He was replaced by Jose Ortiz.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was a bitter pill to have to swallow, losing the ride on the horse that had given him his greatest moment in the saddle in that second leg of the Triple Crown at Pimlico, a horse that his young sons felt a particular bond with. And the pain of that lost connection was compounded when Rispoli took a leg-cracking, ligament-damaging fall at Gulfstream in January, which kept him out of action until late June.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
But time heals relationships as well as broken bones, as long as honest dialogue is involved. Rispoli enjoyed a good relationship with McCarthy prior to losing the Journalism ride, and that has been rekindled since the jockey returned to race-riding: of his seven wins since then, three have been for the California trainer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt good to go ahead and get back together with Umberto, and look how the horse showed up and put forward a performance as he did the other day,\u201d McCarthy told Idol Horse. \u201cAnd, you know, obviously Umberto\u2019s able to get some run out of him, to say the least. So, yeah, it was good.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rispoli, meanwhile, had been talking to Aron Wellman, managing partner of the Journalism owners, since late last year, and that dialogue shifted to talk of a reunion with the big horse in recent weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce I came back from my injury, I had a chat with Aron and with Michael and you know, they said they were happy to put me back on the horse,\u201d Rispoli told Idol Horse. \u201cWe had a chat, very quick chat to move forward, you know. We forgot about what happened, we are all professionals in the business and I think for me it was a big, big opportunity to get back on the horse. Obviously, you know, winning with the horse is the cherry on the cake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut even before my injury, I settled with Aron. We talk. We talk a lot. And we\u2019ve been good since, like, I would say a month after the Breeders\u2019 Cup, we talked, we had a chat, we both explained ourselves.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rispoli had been upset when that decision to jock him off was made, but he understands well how horse racing shifts and moves; how when Journalism went from Preakness hero \u2013 a brave albeit controversial ride by Rispoli \u2013 and Haskell victor to defeated in the Pacific Classic, connections were looking for something else, perhaps a new edge or to reignite the spark that had taken their star racer through a four-win streak that included the G1 Santa Anita Derby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, this business, you know how it is,\u201d Rispoli says. \u201cSo, sometimes they would love to try something different, see if, you know, something different would work or would not work. Then there was the opportunity to get me back on the horse and I was happy to receive the call and jump back on Journalism.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, if there is another rider winning on the horse, you would say what\u2019s the reason to change, right? But at the same time, I was winning on the horse, so it happens to me as well. Of course, I\u2019ve been taken off after the second in the Pacific Classic. But look, I like to see things going forward, not looking back. There isn\u2019t any point talking about what happened, it\u2019s important now to look forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
UMBERTO RISPOLI, JOURNALISM \/ G1 Haskell Invitational \/\/ Monmouth Park \/\/\/ 2025 \/\/\/\/ Photo by Equi-Photo\/Bill Denver courtesy of Monmouth Park<\/p>\n
Looking forward is all about where Journalism will go next as he moves towards the anticipated big target of the Breeders\u2019 Cup at Keeneland, and an aim to improve on his fourth place behind Forever Young in the Breeders\u2019 Cup Classic at Del Mar last year. Plans are fluid.<\/p>\n
With Bob Baffert\u2019s stable star Nysos having already shipped to Del Mar for the Pacific Classic, logic dictates that could mean Journalism taking on the G1 Breeders\u2019 Cup Dirt Mile winner there or maybe sidestepping that race for something like the G1 Goodwood at Santa Anita. McCarthy is open to those possibilities and more at this stage while committing to none yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll be nominated to basically anything out there,\u201d McCarthy said. \u201cWe\u2019ll just kinda see how he is here over the next two weeks. It\u2019ll be about two weeks till he has his first timed workout back after his race, and we\u2019ll just plot our course from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for Journalism, his San Diego Handicap success was his first of the year, his first win since the G1 Haskell last July, in fact, after defeats earlier this campaign behind White Abarrio and Sovereignty in the G2 Oaklawn Handicap and Nysos in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was against lower quality horses at Del Mar this time, instead of the horses that he\u2019d been facing the last three times for sure,\u201d Rispoli said, \u201cbut it was very important for him to get his win as a four-year-old in Graded stakes.\u201d<\/p>\n
And McCarthy is pleased with the strapping son of Curlin and where he is at in his progression.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a bigger, stronger horse,\u201d he said. \u201cThings come easier to him with age. He\u2019s always been a horse that\u2019s been very, very \u2026 I guess easy on himself is the best way to put it, you know.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou watch him train, he trains with a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of integrity; gets over the ground well; always looks a picture of health. So in that regard we\u2019re not seeing a whole lot different from him from three to four because he\u2019s just that kind of horse.\u201d<\/p>\n
McCarthy described Journalism as \u201can incredible specimen\u201d who embodies his sire Curlin\u2019s \u201cbone and substance\u201d and his damsire Uncle Mo\u2019s athleticism.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rispoli is pleased to be back riding such a horse, and as the summer campaign moves through to autumn, jockey, trainer and owners will be hoping the \u2018forgive and forget\u2019 reconnection will bring more happy days their way. \u220e<\/p>\n
![\"Ortiz](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ortiz-illo-1024x683.jpg\")
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David Morgan<\/p>\n
Jose Ortiz: The Road To La Gloria, Where Derby Dreams Were Made<\/p>\n
![\"Hayes](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/HayesDynasty-1-1024x683.jpg\")
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