Santa Anita Sunday Works: Intrepido Drills for Santa Anita Derby; McCarthy Weighs Options for Journalism

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Intrepido (Maximus Mischief) worked six furlongs with jockey Hector Berrios aboard Sunday in preparation for the Apr. 4 GI Santa Anita Derby.Intrepido, trained by Jeff Mullins, was officially clocked completing the work in 1:14.4. Mullins said he timed the work in a shade under 1:14.“He had a little company behind him at the start,” Mullins said. “We were just looking to get him through another work and come back sound.”In his only start this year, the colt finished second by three-quarters of a length to the since sidelined Plutarch (Into Mischief) in the GIII Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 7. Last year, Intrepido won the GI American Pharoah at Santa Anita before finishing fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile after a slow start.Intrepido was among several notables on the work tab Sunday. Big City Lights (Mr. Big), a candidate to run in next Sunday's GIII San Carlos going seven furlongs, worked six furlongs on the training track 1:13.4. Trained by Richard Mandella, Big City Lights has been off since Nov. 30 when finishing off the board in the Stormy Liberal on turf at Del Mar.Trainer Bob Baffert's workers included Imagination (Into Mischief) and Usha (Tiz the Law). Imagination drilled four furlongs in :49.20. It was his second work since winning the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint on Feb. 14 in Saudi Arabia. Usha, winner of the GI La Brea on opening day, worked five furlongs in 1:00.4.Me and Molly McGee (Vekoma), runner up in the GII D. Wayne Lukas in February, posted a three-furlong move in :36.60 for trainer Peter Eurton.Vodka Vodka (Stay Thirsty), trained by Aggie Ordonez, returned to the work tab after finishing second in the GI Santa Anita Handicap Mar. 7. A 5-year-old California-bred gelding, Vodka Vodka drilled four furlongs in 49.0 seconds. Journalism's Preps for 2026 ReturnShortly after Journalism (Curlin) worked five furlongs in company Sunday, trainer Michael McCarthy said he is looking at three potential races to kick off the colt's 4-year-old campaign. Last season's GI Preakness winner could return in either the GII Oaklawn Handicap or GIII Ben Ali at Keeneland, both on Apr. 18, or wait for the GII Alysheba at Churchill Downs on May 1.“All three of those races are in play,” McCarthy said.Both the Oaklawn Handicap and Ben Ali are 1 1/8 miles. The Alysheba is 1 1/16 miles.Journalism's work Sunday was his fifth since Feb. 22 and first with company. He was timed in 1:01.8.“Nice solid work,” McCarthy said. “I wanted him to go ahead and eyeball a horse. I thought it was very professional and he finished up full of run. It seems like his air is coming to him now. We like what we're seeing.”Journalism enters 2026 as one of the leading older horses in the country. Last year, the colt by Curlin won the GI Preakness Stakes, GI Santa Anitia Derby, GI Haskell, GII San Felipe and was second in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. He closed out the campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The post Santa Anita Sunday Works: Intrepido Drills for Santa Anita Derby; McCarthy Weighs Options for Journalism appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.