Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy, falls short in Kentucky Derby 2025

Mouth caked in mud, close but not quite, Umberto Rispoli had a hard truth for Michael McCarthy.

"On the mud, he was the best horse," Rispoli said, referring to Kentucky Derby 151 winner Sovereignty — not their favorite, Journalism. "On a fair track, I think the deal is on."

McCarthy replied, "What're you going to do?"

This duo was no stranger to the Kentucky Derby. But the first Saturday in May hits different when you’re the ones bringing the favorite to Churchill Downs, chasing your first trip to the winner’s circle.   

Not just any favorite, either. In Journalism, they had a horse with the "it factor," co-owner Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners said. “A mind built for execution.”

Rispoli has taken to calling him “King Kong."  

In the Derby record book, he’ll be known as a runner-up. Journalism was 1 ½ lengths behind winner Sovereignty on a sloppy track in Saturday’s 151st Run for the Roses.

For McCarthy and Rispoli, it’s the best Derby finish of their careers. Something to appreciate — but a missed opportunity, no doubt.  

During the buildup to the race, Rispoli said if you had asked him when he began riding in North America five years ago if he’d ever get a shot at the Triple Crown’s iconic first leg, he would have told you, “I don’t know.”  

“It’s a privilege,” said Rispoli, who fell to 0 for 3 in the Derby. “(Winning) would be the best achievement of my career.”  

McCarthy made his Derby debut in 2024 with Endlessly (and Rispoli), who finished ninth. But he notably opposed entering the son of Oscar Performance, who had never raced on dirt, and was overruled by the horse’s owner.  

A year later, his contender had him saying, “I certainly wouldn’t want to trade positions with anybody.” Journalism entered Saturday with a 4-0-1 record across five starts and was coming off a win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, on the strength of an impressive stretch run. 

“You always dream of having a horse of this caliber," McCarthy told reporters on the backside in late April. “Right horse at the right time; we always say, ‘It only takes one.’”  

Saturday was not Journalism’s time. Stop the presses.  

This story will be updated.  

Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @brooksHolton.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Journalism, Michael McCarthy fall short in Kentucky Derby 2025