ARCADIA, Calif. – All the pre-race hype was on the wrong 3-year-old Saturday in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. Journalism ran past odds-on favorite Barnes in deep stretch of the San Felipe, winning by one and three-quarter lengths and stamping himself as a leading candidate – perhaps the new favorite – for the Kentucky Derby. Michael McCarthy trains Journalism ($8.20), and Umberto Rispoli rode the colt to a fast time of 1:42.24 for a mile and one sixteenth. Barnes finished more than nine lengths clear of third-place finisher Rodriguez. Mellencamp and Smooth Cruisein finished fourth and fifth, while Berlin Wall scratched. McCarthy suggested before the San Felipe that Journalism was not totally cranked for his first start since he won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec.14. He was cranked enough, though. “I thought he was where he needed to be to run well,” McCarthy said. “Obviously, he was going forward at the wire, so pretty exciting to think where he could go from here if he moves forward off this race.” :: Santa Anita Clocker Reports are available every race day. Access now. Rispoli gave Journalism a great trip. The colt broke sharply from post 2 and initially looked like he would be a pace factor. Rispoli got him to settle fourth on the rail, and the inside lane was best Saturday on Santa Anita's main track. “He broke really sharp. After that, he needs to adjust himself,” Rispoli said. “He’s a big boy, and he likes galloping. The trip was perfect. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”  Journalism tucked fourth on the rail and initially was slow to respond when Rispoli asked him on the far turn. But he got into stride and launched his bid outside Barnes into the stretch. Barnes appeared to be traveling easily through a comfortable half-mile in 47.31 and six furlongs in 1:11.10. Journalism ran past him late and was extending his margin at the wire.  Journalism earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 108, tying Magnitude's Risen Star win for the highest figure earned by the current 3-year-old crop. Barnes earned a 105 Beyer in defeat. Barnes had no visible excuse, according to jockey Juan Hernandez.  “I felt I had a lot of horse underneath, he was traveling really well,” Hernandez said. “We just got beat today by a better horse, I guess.”  The San Felipe was the first start around two turns for Barnes, who won his first two starts in sprints. Barnes ran fast enough to win the San Felipein most years. The disappointment in the San Felipe was Rodriguez, who pressed the pace from second position and was outrun in the lane.  The future is bright for Journalism, sired by Curlin. The colt has now won all three route races and is 3 for 4 in his career. He is owned by a partnership that includes Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, and Don Alberto Stable.  McCarthy said the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5 was the potential next start for Journalism. Considering the San Felipe was the colt’s first start in two-and-a-half months, his connections can only dream.  “Pretty exciting to think maybe if he improves off this, what could lie ahead for him,” McCarthy said.  The scratch of Berlin Wall from the San Felipe reduced the field to five starters. Due to the small field, Churchill Downs awarded only 75 percent of the Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the San Felipe, reducing the total from 105 points to 78.5.  Journalism earned 37.5 points for the win, while runner-up Barnes earned 18.75 points, third-place finisher Rodriguez earned 11.25 points, fourth-place Mellencamp earned 7.5 points, and fifth-place finisher Smooth Cruisein earned 3.75 points. Overall, Journalism has 47.5 points and moves to fifth on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.