Witkowski Confident Journalism is Stronger Than Ever

The two-week turnaround between the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) has been a hot topic of debate in recent years, and that debate was especially hot this year as Derby winner Sovereignty  bypassed a start in the May 17 Preakness in favor of the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1).

However, the runner-up and beaten favorite of the Derby, Journalism , is back on two weeks' rest. Favored again Saturday, the questions of a quick comeback will circle him until he crosses the Pimlico Race Course finish line.

If any one person had the right to guess how much the Derby performance took out of Journalism, it would be Marc Witkowski. The exercise rider has been the only one aboard Journalism since that Derby effort May 3, and he hasn't felt any reason to feel concerned about the Preakness.

"I think his power is stronger since the Kentucky Derby," Witkowski said. "He does feel stronger and pays attention more."

An increase in strength and attention in the 3-year-old son of Curlin  , who won the 2007 Preakness after finishing third in the Derby, would be a scary proposition for his eight competitors.

"When we gallop around the track and (we've gone) about a mile, I can ask him to pick it up and he'll still go with another half-mile and not even take a deep breath," Witkowski said. "The power underneath him, you can just feel that he's a really nice horse and he loves what he's doing out there."

Witkowski first rode Journalism in the mornings for trainer Michael McCarthy in September as he prepared for his career debut the following month. The two have formed a close relationship that has been on full display as they've hit the national scene in America's biggest races.

"He listens to me and I try to listen to him. We go out there and just work together," Witkowski said. "He's playful, but nothing out of the ordinary."

Some of that playing involves jumping up on his hind legs as he's exiting the track. Witkowski said he loves when Journalism does that, showing signs of wanting to do more.

"That's a horse feeling good," Witkowski said. "I like when he bucks and kicks. It's showing that he is feeling up to whatever we're asking him to do. Sometimes he might get a little impatient, but when we start going to turn around and jog off, he's like, 'All right.' He puts his head down, stays in the bit, and is ready to go with the next step I'm asking him to do. Then we just go for a nice, beautiful ride."

Witkowski grew up in Tucson, Ariz., where his grandmother's property was positioned alongside a ranch owned by Ramon Bazurto. Witkowski would sneak over to the ranch in the early mornings to play with the horses and ride them.

"If his ranch was never there, I don't know if I'd have anything to do with horses," Witkowski said. "Ramon taught me a lot of my foundation of working with horses and with people. I want to give him a lot of credit. He's always been family to me."

Witkowski always dreamed of moving on to the bigger circuits with top-tier horses, but wanted to gain more experience first and stayed home to ride at Rillito Park and Turf Paradise. He would also travel to Emerald Downs in Washington for their meet.

In 2018, Witkowski felt it was time to make the move. While on horseback one morning, he was asking a trainer whether or not he was sending horses to Southern California. The answer was no, but trainer Jeff Metz overheard the conversation. He asked Witkowski if he wanted to go to Southern California. Witkowski answered yes.

"After I got done galloping that morning, I headed over to his barn," Witkowski said. "Three days later, I was in Southern California."

However, the trip wasn't as quick and easy as it sounded. Witkowski's car blew the engine at the Washington/Oregon border.

"It seemed like there were some forces not wanting me to go," Witkowski said. "I left all my stuff there, grabbed some bags, and jumped on a Greyhound bus. I thought about going back because I was like, 'This isn't right.' But I pushed through it and thank God I made it down on the Greyhound."

Ignoring the potential signal to return to Emerald Downs proved the right choice as he became a regular rider at Santa Anita Park. He worked for several trainers over the years, including a year with John Shirreffs where he got to exercise 2020 Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Honor A. P.   for a short stint.

Witkowski has been on McCarthy's team for the last two years, and has regularly ridden some of his top horses like two-time grade 1 winner Formidable Man  and multiple graded stakes winner Endlessly . However, Journalism is unlike any horse he's ridden before.

"He is the top one," Witkowski said. "(Formidable Man and Endlessly) have some massive power you can feel underneath them, but Journalism has more power than those two."

Journalism has already taken Witkowski on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to the Triple Crown, which he had always dreamed of since watching Strike the Gold win the 1991 Kentucky Derby as a kid. Traveling with Journalism was his first trip to Churchill Downs and to Pimlico.

"It's been a great trip. The people, the hospitality have been so nice," he said. "Everybody's been so kind and welcoming and I'm just grateful and blessed to have that. I would want to do it again."

The only thing that would make the experience even better would be a win in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. If that happens, don't expect to be having much conversation with Witkowski in the immediate aftermath.

"I almost lost my voice in the Kentucky Derby, so it will probably be the same thing," Witkowski said. Every single race since the Los Al Futurity, I lost my voice for at least a half day or two."