Journalism, Formidable Man Lead Banner Day for McCarthy

[Wandering Eyes]

Michael McCarthy enjoyed the kind of day most trainers could only wish for last Saturday at Santa Anita. He won four races on an 11-race card including the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile with Formidable Man (City of Light), GII San Felipe with 3-year-old Journalism (Curlin) and GII Buena Vista with Liguria (War Front).

“It was a memorable day,” McCarthy said Sunday morning. “I'm just very pleased for my guys at the barn. It takes a lot to have a day like yesterday. It was a real team effort.”

In addition to McCarthy's three graded stakes tallies, he also ended the day with a win in the 11th and final race, an allowance on turf, with Phosphorescence (Fr) (City of Light). McCarthy said he celebrated the massive day by joining family and friends for a dinner out.

“It was nice to unwind, have a good meal and reflect on a really good day,” McCarthy said.

Leading McCarthy's quartet of winners was Journalism, who was making his 3-year-old debut in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe, a Kentucky Derby prep. The colt came from off the pace under Umberto Rispoli and won going away by 1 3/4 lengths.

“We expected certainly a solid effort coming off a short layoff,” said McCarthy. “I think you saw yesterday when he straightened through the lane, he started to find his gears.”

Journalism is owned by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and Robert V. LaPenta. He previously won the GII Los Alamitos Futurity when making his stakes debut in December.

Journalism now has 47 1/2 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, which is historically enough to get him in the starting gate for this year's Run for the Roses.

McCarthy said the GI Santa Anita Derby on Apr. 5 is the “most likely scenario” for Journalism's return.

Formidable Man, also ridden by Rispoli, earned his second Grade I win in the Kilroe Mile. In November, the now 4-year-old colt won the GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar.

“He's a proven Grade I caliber horse. I think his performance yesterday was the best we've seen from him and that was a world-class ride from Umberto,” McCarthy said.

Owned by William K. Warren Jr. and Suzanne Warren, Formidable Man earned a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

As for what's next, McCarthy said “we'll kind of take it easy with him for the next 10 days to two weeks” before deciding.

He mentioned potentially the GIII American Stakes at a mile on turf on Apr. 20 at Santa Anita as a potential lead-in to the GI Shoemaker Mile on May 26.

Liguria won the one-mile Buena Vista on turf by a head under Flavien Prat. It was her second start following a 15 1/2-month layoff and second start for McCarthy after being transferred from trainer Chad Brown. In her comeback Feb. 1 in the GIII Megahertz, Liguria was third beaten three lengths.

“You always worry coming off an extended layoff like she did that they may bounce second time back off quick rest. But she has been so professional with everything she does. She does everything with purpose,” McCarthy said.

Owned by Alpha Delta Stables, the 5-year-old may make her next start in the GI Gamely going 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 26 at Santa Anita.

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