On August 16, Journalism did his 2nd workout session after the Haskell Stakes win, impressing everyone who stood by. Covering four furlongs in a crisp 48 seconds flat, he showed a noticeable improvement over last week’s 48.40. With that, the star horse signalled he was still in top form. “He worked very well. He got into a nice rhythm and showed good energy throughout. We had a horse keep head-to-head company with him, and we got pretty much what he’s been doing for the last year. That was good today,” trainer Michael McCarthy said after the session. And now, one of the colt’s owners, Aron Wellman, has shed some light on what the trainer plans for the Preakness Stakes winner going forward. 

Wellman recently appeared in an interview with FanDuel TV. When the reporter asked, “You guys know him like the back of your hand. What’s he kind of exhibiting in terms of his training in the mornings and his overall energy levels?” In his reply, the owner said, “Yeah, we’re seeing steady progression out of him, which is what we want to be seeing. Michael’s just gradually turning up the dials on him.” 

He also added, “He worked a little bit more serious yesterday morning in company, inside of a mate, good gallop out. So we’ll pick up the pace again next week and try to get an accurate barometer on where he stands.” But one question remains. Where is Journalism headed for his next race?

So far, both Wellman and McCarthy had kept a tight lid on that answer, confirming and denying nothing. “As of right now, I think everything needs to be on the table,” McCarthy said in a July episode of TDN’s Writers’ Room Podcast. But now, it seems like they could be leaning towards one particular race more than others.

Journalism’s team might just have made up its mind 

“This is just the initial step for him. Good to see him stretch his legs again. I think he showed us everything we wanted to see today and we’ll get a better gauge next week. Just turn up the dials a little bit more,” Michael McCarthy had said following Journalism’s workout on August 9. Well, it’s clear from Wellman’s latest comments that Journalism continues to impress his camp. And while the owners and trainer may not be comfortable making an official announcement based on the two workouts the colt has participated in since Haskell, Wellman might just have hinted at where the 3-year-old’s next destination could be.

“Possible,” is what Wellman said on being asked whether the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) set to take place on August 30 will be where Journalism will be running next. But, again, nothing is set in stone. “Yeah, absolutely. But as we’ve tried to maintain throughout his campaign, we want to make sure that we’re being responsible to the horse, first and foremost, to our partners. We’ve got a really important partnership group,” he added.

He also pointed out that it’s important for the entire team to maintain its credibility within the industry, and that it would want to avoid going back on its word once an announcement is made. Thankfully, there is still time. “We’ve got the luxury of taking this extra week to decide whether the Pacific Classic will be his next stop or not,” he concluded, reiterating that the team’s primary responsibility is to the horse.