BOZICH | Journalism isn't running from Preakness — or another crack at Sovereignty | Sports

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Not every trainer is convinced bypassing the Preakness is the prudent path to follow with a top 3-year-old colt.

On Tuesday at Churchill Downs, trainer Michael McCarthy will load beaten Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism on a van for the winding 607.2-mile drive to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Journalism made two comfortable trips around the muddy track at Churchill on Monday morning. McCarthy saw what he needed to see and then quietly confirmed the Preakness news that came from the colt's owners Sunday evening: On Saturday, the Derby runner-up will race in the second leg of the Triple Crown.

The rest of the story: Journalism will likely be a bigger favorite in the Preakness than he was in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished second to Sovereignty.

And get this: As long as nothing unfortunate happens in Baltimore, McCarthy said his plan was to race Journalism three weeks later in the Belmont Stakes.

I think. You decide.

"Yes," McCarthy said to my question while walking away from his barn. "Possibly ... maybe."

I'll take that as a yes — and good news for Fox Sports (and WDRB), which has the television rights to the Belmont, which will actually be run at Saratoga (New York) Race Track on June 7.

"It's obviously going to be a very competitive spot," McCarthy said. "There's going to be plenty of speed in there, enough speed that I think we'll be in a good tactical spot."

If Journalism wins the Preakness, he can enrich the debate about which horse is the finest 3-year-old in the Belmont at Saratoga. For the second consecutive year, the Triple Crown has been relocated. Belmont Park is being renovated.

Because of the configuration of the track, the Saratoga at Belmont will be run at the Derby distance of a mile-and-a-quarter instead of the traditional Belmont distance of a mile-and-a-half.

Sovereignty outran Journalism in the final three eighths of a mile to win the Derby by 1 1/2 lengths.

Given another opportunity, McCarthy believes his talented colt can make up that margin in the Belmont.

The trainer said he has watched the Derby replay once — and only once. He said it so crisply that I believe him.

Painful?

"I wouldn't think it was painful," he said. "Obviously, your expectations are high. You're coming in with a horse who's the rightful favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

"So running second is … it's fine. It's what it is. It's fine, you know.

"I saw it one time. I saw enough in real time that I'm pretty sure I know what was going on ..."

McCarthy believes that his colt lost the race in the first 100 yards out of the starting gate, not during the stretch run when Sovereignty moved from fourth place, one length behind Journalism, to first, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of the favorite.

"I thought his mile-and-a-quarter here was very good after getting pinched back at the start," McCarthy said.

"If I can have anything over again, I'd like to have the first 100 yards. I thought the start was a bit unfortunate."

That's where you believe the race was lost?

"Sure," McCarthy said. "I wanted him to be about five lengths off the lead. I think (Churchill track announcer) Travis Stone called him about 12 lengths off the lead going into the first turn.

"So if I'm (only) five lengths off where I'd like to be … you know."

McCarthy did not finish that sentence. But I believe I know. I believe that he believes that Journalism would have won the Derby.

Instead you can add Journalism's name to the list of talented horses like Point Given (2001), Risen Star (1988) whose connections will always wonder if an unfavorable trip led directly to their Derby defeat.

Now they can chase the Preakness-Belmont double. Point Given achieved that. So did Risen Star. And Afleet Alex in 2005. There are others.

"He's had a couple of good mornings since I've been here," McCarthy said. "I'm very pleased with what I've seen so far. The horse is doing well. He's thriving in his environment."

McCarthy was asked if he was disappointed that Sovereignty is not running in the Preakness.

"I couldn't tell you one way or another," he said. "Hopefully he's thriving and doing well. It should make for a great Belmont with some fresh faces."

So you're looking forward to another crack at Sovereignty?

"Yeah, sure," McCarthy said. "Sure. Sure. Yeah. Yeah.

"You know, when (Journalism) worked on Sunday I thought it would take a very big effort to beat him on Derby Day.

"The horse that I thought could beat him or thought that we had to beat, did."

Without a Triple Crown in play, a Preakness victory by Journalism with a chance to continue and settle this debate at Saratoga is the best that racing can ask for.

Triple Crown Coverage:

Jockey suspended, fined for striking Sovereignty too many times in Kentucky Derby 151 win

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Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty skipping Preakness to focus on Belmont