All appears well at trainer Bill Mott’s Churchill Downs barn after Sovereignty’s victory in the $5 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 3. As Mott and the Godolphin team ponder possible next steps regarding their colt’s potential Triple Crown bid, the connections of several other top Derby runners are similarly examining options for their runners.

Michael McCarthy, trainer of runner-up and beaten favorite Journalism, said that it was hard to know for certain on Sunday morning where the son of Curlin lands next. However, he did mention that the May 17 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course as being an option.

The trainer said he would have conversations over the next few days with the owners and make a decision. Journalism is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, and Coolmore affiliates.

The field for the 2025 Kentucky Derby races on the first turn. (Eclipse Sportswire)

“We’ll give him a day or two to get his feet underneath him and see where we’re at,” McCarthy said. “He’s run well back off of quick rest before, so we’ll see.”

Journalism made the first three starts of his career in a seven-week timeframe last fall, culminating in a Los Alamitos Futurity victory. His 1 1/2-length defeat in the Derby was his first since finishing third at six furlongs in his career debut.

McCarthy earned his first Triple Crown race victory with Rombauer in the 2021 Preakness Stakes and would be grateful for another chance to contest the 1 3/16-mile classic race if the decision is made to run.

“It’s still very prestigious in its own right,” McCarthy said. “I would like to win any Triple Crown race. I would have liked to put the Derby in the books and worried about the rest of the stuff later. Preakness carries a lot of weight, Belmont carries a lot of weight. It’s a great five weeks of racing. Just to be part of it is a big deal.”

Journalism will stay at Churchill Downs for the near future as final decisions are made. Should connections choose to skip the Preakness in favor of the June 7 Belmont Stakes, McCarthy said he would ship early to Saratoga Race Course.

McCarthy this week at Churchill Downs. (BloodHorse/Chad B. Harmon)

McCarthy was visibly emotional about the defeat Sunday morning, but could not be more proud of the effort his Santa Anita Derby winner put forth.

“I thought he ran very well,” McCarthy said. “It was unfortunate that he got pinched a little bit there leaving the gate. He was a little bit further back beneath the wire the first time around than I would have liked, but put in a wonderful run around the turn and was beaten by the horse I thought he had to beat.”

McCarthy said he had been impressed by Sovereignty exiting the prep season and during training hours in the week before the Derby.

“I thought after the Florida Derby, even with as well as the winner [Tappan Street] ran, I thought [Sovereignty] was the horse to beat,” he said. “What I saw here this week, same thing. Maybe if it’s a dry racetrack, the result would be different. I don’t know, I can’t make any excuses for my horse.

“Coming out of the turn, as well as we were moving, I could see Junior [Alvarado on Sovereignty] was behind us moving just as well. I thought it was just a matter of who was going to stick around longer. Sovereignty stuck around a little longer than [Journalism] did.”

Journalism’s jockey, Umberto Rispoli, said after the race that he did not feel Journalism was comfortable early when racing on the sloppy going.

Whether it be in the Preakness, Belmont, or further down the line, McCarthy said he is hopeful he will have another shot at Sovereignty this year, saying he believed both horses will be in the conversation for Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old by year’s end.

“He’s as good as there is in his class this year. He showed up and ran as advertised,” McCarthy said. “Take nothing away from our horse yesterday. He was very, very good.”

Baeza, Sandman Eye Belmont Stakes

Also running well in the Derby was C R K Stable and Grandview Equine’s Baeza. After a stressful week for the connections as they waited to see whether he’d draw in off the also-eligible list, the son of McKinzie rewarded their patience with a closing third-place finish.

Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Baeza. (Coady Media)

“I don’t think he had the best of trips,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “Running on an off-track for the first time, that’s a little bit of a different experience. But he handled everything so well.”

As of Sunday morning, Shirreffs said the Preakness is not under consideration for the half-brother (same dam [mother], different sire [father]) to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont winner Dornoch.

“At this moment, we’d rather go back to California and regroup a little bit,” Shirreffs said.

He did mention that plans could change any time before the colt boarded the plane, which was still an undetermined date as of Sunday morning, but indicated that was highly unlikely. However, Baeza is under consideration to have one more attempt at becoming Puca’s third classic winner in three years in the June 7 Belmont Stakes.

Arkansas Derby winner Sandman (Coady Media)

Meeting Baeza in the Belmont Stakes will very likely be D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables’ Arkansas Derby winner Sandman. Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse was at his barn Sunday morning, saying farewell to the colt’s many connections with, “See you at the Belmont.”

“I had said prior to the Derby that the only way we would go to the Preakness is if we won the Derby,” Casse said about skipping the Preakness for the Belmont. “He’s won at Saratoga, I like the timing for it.”

Sandman’s sire, Tapit, has sired four Belmont Stakes winners at the customary 1 1/2-mile distance. This year, as in 2024, the race will be held at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga Race Course while construction continues of a new grandstand at Belmont Park.

In the Derby, Casse said Sandman, second choice in the wagering, struggled a bit with the wet racetrack while racing at the tail-end of the field. In the late stages, he mounted mile rally to capture seventh.

“He was not handling the kickback at all early on, and that’s why he was so far back,” Casse said. “The two best horses ran 1-2. We’re gonna rebound and look at the Belmont.”

Other Derby Runners Make Plans for Future

Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing’s Owen Almighty was one of the biggest surprises of the Derby, holding on gamely for fifth after prompting the pace at a classic distance that trainer Brian Lynch and many pundits suspected was too long for him. With the Derby complete, Lynch reiterated his desire to return the son of Speightstown to shorter races.

“We will let the dust, or mud, settle and talk with the team, but possibly the Woody Stephens next,” he told Churchill Downs publicity.

The Woody Stephens Stakes is a seven-furlong, Grade 1 race on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

There was disappointment in the Japan camp as Luxor Cafe (12th) was impacted by a rough trip and Admire Daytona (19th) weakened in the slop. Churchill Downs Asia representative Kate Hunter posted on X that both horses emerged in good order and could return to the United States later in the year to contest the Nov. 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.

Potential Preakness New Shooters

Trainer Bob Baffert told Churchill Downs publicity Sunday morning that Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino winner Rodriguez, who was scratched from the Derby with a foot bruise, is his potential Preakness representative. He has continued to train since his scratch.

Wood Memorial Stakes winner Rodriguez (Eclipse Sportswire)

Derby pacesetter and reigning 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull, who faded to 15th, will head back to California and regroup.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday morning that Toyota Blue Grass Stakes third-place finisher River Thames remains possible for the Preakness. The Maclean’s Music colt breezed four furlongs May 2 on Belmont Park’s training track in :48.75.

State veterinarians scratched Pletcher’s lone Derby entrant, Grande, on May 2. His owner, Mike Repole, said the colt was dealing with a cracked heel. Pletcher stated Sunday morning that the Curlin colt will have a May 5 check-up with veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital.

“We’ll see what we’re going to do from there,” Pletcher said.

On track at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning was Steve Asmussen-trained Preakness hopeful Clever Again. Oaklawn Park’s Hot Springs Stakes winner jogged two miles on a sloppy track.

After a lengthy layoff that followed a runner-up finish in his debut in April of his 2-year-old season, the American Pharoah colt has gone 2-for-2 this year at age 3. He shares the same ownership of Winchell Thoroughbreds, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith as Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic, who checked in 10th in the Derby.