While Sovereignty is skipping the Preakness, Journalism is at Pimlico and is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the field of nine. After the colt galloped 1 1/8 miles over the wet track Thursday morning, McCarthy said Journalism is showing him positive signs.  

“I have a lot of confidence in my horse,” McCarthy said. “He’s coming back in two weeks. Sometimes with good horses, it’s a lot harder to tell when they’re not on top of their game, because they can handle it. They handle these things so easily. We’ll see on Saturday, but my gut tells me we’re in for good things.”

Journalism, co-owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith was purchased as a yearling at Fasig Tipton’s 2023 Saratoga Sale for $825,000. He has a 4-1-1 record from six career starts.

The runner-up finish in the Derby ended a four-race winning streak. He earned his qualifying points for the Derby with wins in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the San Felipe (G2). McCarthy said that a turning point in the colt’s development from a talented prospect into a Triple Crown series-caliber runner took place in mid-December.

“After the Los Alamitos Futurity, he really started to train with a lot more, I guess, integrity,” McCarthy said. “He was just really starting to kind of use himself properly and things were coming a lot easier to him. When they’re good like that, they can take a little more training than the average racehorse. He’s been very textbook since the summer of ’24.”

Rispoli, who regularly rides for McCarthy, was up for the Los Alamitos Futurity and has been aboard ever since. 

“He’s a very good rider,” McCarthy said. “He’s accomplished all over the world. He’s a very tactical guy. He does his homework. Those are all the kind of things I like.”

Four years ago, McCarthy won his Preakness debut with Rombauer, a lower-profile colt who had not run in the Kentucky Derby. McCarthy had a quiet week leading up to the race. Things are different for him this year as he prepares a colt who will be the favorite in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Like he did at Churchill Downs, McCarthy talks with a media gaggle after Journalism trains. 

“I think it’s a great spot to be in,” he said. “I would have liked to have been talking to you guys with a Derby win under my belt, but it’s a tough race to win. Any of these Triple Crown races, they’re not easy to win. So, we’ve brought a horse here who seems like he’s good enough to get the job done on Saturday.”

McCarthy said that Journalism showed he could handle a muddy track in Louisville, which he might have to travel over again at the end of a wet week in Maryland.  And McCarthy said the colt can deal with what might develop into a quick early pace with several speedy horses in the lineup.

“I wouldn’t say there’s more impetus to get to the lead,” he said. “I would say the way he has placed himself in his races, he can lay close and be effective. I’d just like a clean break this week. That’s all.”