Michael McCarthy

Welcome to the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Journalism. Showcasing the same stalk-and-pounce ability that earned him a maiden win going just a 1/16 of a mile shorter last month, Journalism (Curlin) employed the same tactics Saturday night to upset a trio of Bob Baffert runners and take the GII Los Alamitos Futurity for Michael McCarthy and earn himself 10 points toward the first Saturday in May. The least experienced runner in the field by starts made (tied with 26-1 longshot Mellencamp {Constitution} who exited the same debut race), the...

The Saturday graded stakes action across North America offers several options, but the Big A earns the spotlight as the venerable NYRA track plays host to some strong races. Even though the Cigar Mile Handicap was downgraded a tick from its top level status by the American Graded Stakes Committee in 2023, connections still consider the race to possess a certain cache and the rigor in this year's edition is evident. "It [Cigar Mile] came up pretty salty," said Book'em Danno's trainer Derek Ryan. "It is a Grade II now...

East Coast-based horses had won the GI Hollywood Derby in six of the last eight years and three of the last four, but it was a California 1-2 in Saturday's renewal at Del Mar, as William and Suzanne Warren's Formidable Man (City of Light) parlayed a perfect trip in the box seat into a clear-cut victory over King of Gosford (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}). 'TDN Rising Star' Donegal Momentum (Uncle Mo) broke best of all and led the Hollywood Derby field down the chute, but Rothschild (Uncle Mo)--also ridden positively by...

6th-Del Mar, $56,500, Msw, 11-17, 2yo, 1m, 1:36.49, ft, 2 1/2 lengths. JOURNALISM (c, 2, Curlin--Mopotism {GSW & MGISP, $876,090}, by Uncle Mo), an $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad, wrote his own headline as he made the papers at the seaside oval on Sunday. The bay showed signs that he could rally in such a fashion when he was up for third on debut at Santa Anita Oct. 27. Allowed to go off as a 9-2 shot here, the 2-year-old burst out of the stall, but was content to settle in...

In the first domestic graded race for juveniles since the Breeders' Cup a little more than two weeks ago, 'TDN Rising Star' Bullard (c, 2, Gun Runner--Reve d'Amour, by Warrior's Reward) stayed unbeaten to capture Del Mar's GIII Bob Hope Stakes Sunday. The $675,000 Keeneland September purchase had gone to the post favored over highly regarded GI Del Mar Futurity runner-up and GI American Pharoah Stakes third McKinzie Street (McKinzie), who would hit the board once again. Umberto Rispoli, who has been aboard in both of Bullard's two career starts,...

A bevy of horses pre-entered in next weekend's Breeders' Cup at Del Mar worked Saturday at Santa Anita. Out in force were horses trained by Bob Baffert and Phil D'Amato, who combined pre-entered 18 horses to the 41st Breeders' Cup. D'Amato worked all eight of his Breeders' Cup pre-entrants. One Magic Philly (Good Magic) (Filly & Mare Sprint), winner of the GIII Chillingworth Stakes last out, and Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words) (Juvenile Fillies), second in the GI Del Mar Debutante, worked in company. One Magic Philly was clocked...

Some of the best fillies and mares in the world will soon descend on Southern California for the Breeders' Cup. But one of the fastest fillies in the sport will spend the afternoon in a stall for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, while her trainer, Michael McCarthy. figures out path he wants to take with 3-year-old filly Accuracy (Arrogate). She's certainly not ready for the Breeders' Cup after maiden win, but a phenomenal performance in an Oct. 19 race at Santa Anita suggest the Mike Repole owned 3-year-old could...

On paper, it didn't look like Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca) could lose in last Saturday's GIII Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita. Instead, the Grade I winner was last in the field of four, losing to One Magic Philly (Good Magic) by 8 3/4 lengths in what was the worst start of her career. Trainer Michael McCarthy reports that he can find no reason why she ran so poorly and is still aiming for he GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. "She is fine," McCarthy said. "There's no issues. All...

Trainer Phil D'Amato reported One Magic Philly (Good Magic) and Hang the Moon (Uncle Mo) were doing well after their graded stakes victories Saturday at Santa Anita and both fillies are under consideration for Breeders' Cup engagements. Hang the Moon earned a fees-paid berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf with her upset win in Saturday's GII Rodeo Drive Stakes. "She paid her way [to the Breeders' Cup]. If she continues to train well, that's where we'll go," D'Amato said Sunday morning. One Magic Philly won her...

"Zurdo" Estrada earned his nickname back when he was a kid in Mexico running up and down the soccer field. He would always kick the ball with his left foot so everyone called him Zurdo, the term word for left-handed. The nickname stuck and even still today, it's what everyone knows him as on the Santa Anita backside. Estrada began working as a hot walker at Bay Meadows Racetrack in San Mateo, California in 1989. He instantly fell in love with the sport and after a few short months, made...

16-1 longshot Musical Mischief (Into Mischief) upset the GII Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove Stakes Saturday to earn her first graded stakes win. The $300,000 yearling had shown a prior affinity for the dirt at Churchill Downs, romping late last year in an off-the-turf allowance race by 11 1/2 lengths and going right into the 1 1/4-mile GI American Oaks at Santa Anita where she managed third behind the talented Anisette (Awtaad {Ire}). Second in the Allaire Dupont Distaff Stakes at Pimlico May 17, Musical Mischief returned to Churchill to win an...

Formidable Man (City of Light), favored off a win in the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar July 20, stormed to the lead and held off Stay Hot late to earn his first graded victory in the GII Del Mar Derby at the oceanside oval Sunday. The 6-5 favorite was away smartly before settling off the pace as longshot Sketchy (Uncle Mo) set a pedestrian pace. The tempo quickened noticeably on the far turn and Formidable Man rolled up three wide into the lane to hit the lead at midstretch. Stay...