Heart Of Honor takes fifth place as Journalism lands Preakness

Saffie Osborne’s bid for Preakness Stakes glory aboard Heart Of Honor ended in disappointment as Journalism claimed a dramatic race at Pimlico.

Trained by her father Jamie, Heart Of Honor was twice a winner at Meydan during the winter months and tackled the second leg of the American Triple Crown after being beaten just a nose in last month’s UAE Derby.

Having her first ride in America, Osborne’s mount slightly missed the break and raced towards the rear throughout the extended nine-furlong contest as Clever Again set the early pace, with Heart Of Honor eventually staying on at the finish to come home in fifth place.

Journalism meanwhile was bidding to improve on his second place in the Kentucky Derby but it looked as though jockey Umberto Rispoli was not going to get a run at the top of the straight as Goal Oriented edged towards the rails and blocked his path.

Rispoli’s mount was sandwiched between that horse and Clever Again on the inside, but Journalism managed to regain his balance after getting a hefty bump before flying down the outside to deny Gosger on the line, with Sandman back in third.

The winning jockey, who previously rode in his native Italy before moving to America, told NBC: “I don’t know if people realise what this horse did today, I got in trouble at the quarter pole and he made himself go again. It’s all about him – it’s a pleasure to ride a horse like him.

“I was in a tough spot (at the top of the straight) but it’s unbelievable.”

Winning trainer Michael McCarthy added: “There was a lot of bouncing around there. I guess when I saw that I kind of resigned myself to the fact it was another fantastic effort and we’d maybe come up a little bit short, but it’s testament to this horse. I couldn’t be prouder of him.

“In the back of my mind I thought we would be two for two here, but (we) just happened to get one of these and they’re very, very difficult races to win.”