Journalism strong but still second best in Pacific Classic

Preakness winner is beaten by Fierceness, shipped to Del Mar from the East Coast.

- By JoHN CHERWA

BENOIT PHOTO via Associated Press

FIERCENESS, ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, overcame a shaky start to win the Pacific Classic, the only $1-million race in Southern California.

As the racing world waits for the expected third meeting of Sovereignty, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and Journalism, winner of the Preakness, in the $7-million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 1, it became clear there are some older horses that need to be paid attention to in the country’s richest horse race.

On Saturday, Journalism, a 3-year-old running for the first time against horses 4 and older, had a strong but still second-best finish in the $1-million Pacific Classic. At 1¼ miles, it is the same distance and over the same course as the Classic.

For Journalism, it was the seventh straight finish in the exacta this year, all run against stakes competition. The Southern California-based colt has won four of seven races this year, with all his second-place finishes coming at 1¼ miles.