Stark Contrast headed to Saratoga for Belmont Derby

Stark Contrast, the sharp winner of the Grade 1 American Turf Stakes on May 2 at Churchill Downs, is on schedule for a start in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby on July 4 at Saratoga.

Stark Contrast, who has won 4 of 7 starts and earned $1,066,060 for owners and breeders John and Jerry Amerman and trainer Michael McCarthy, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Friday at Santa Anita.

McCarthy said Sunday that plans for two of his other leading older horses – Formidable Man and Journalism – are uncertain.

Formidable Man won the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 25 at Santa Anita in his first start since a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar last November.

McCarthy said race options for Formidable Man include the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on July 26 at Del Mar, or the Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes at a mile on turf on Aug. 8 at Saratoga.

The Eddie Read has a purse of $250,000. The Fourstardave is worth $750,000, with a berth available for the winner to the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“Everything is kind of fluid,” McCarthy said of race plans

Journalism has finished third in two starts this year – the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park in April and the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on June 6 at Saratoga.

Journalism, who has won five stakes, including the 2025 Preakness Stakes, is currently based with McCarthy’s stable at Churchill Downs but is tentatively scheduled to be sent to California in the coming week, McCarthy said.

There are two graded stakes at Del Mar for older horses on dirt at the summer meeting – the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 18 and the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 22.

Journalism was second in the Pacific Classic last August.