Photo:

Lindsay Affleck / Eclipse Sportswire

It was a day to remember for Michael McCarthy Saturday at Santa Anita. He won four races on an 11-race card, including the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile with Formidable Man, San Felipe (G2) with 3-year-old Journalism and Buena Vista (G2) with Liguria.

“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. 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.

Starring among McCarthy’s quartet of winners was Journalism. Making his 3-year-old debut in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe, a key Kentucky Derby prep, the Curlin colt came from off the pace under Umberto Rispoli and won going away by 1 3/4 lengths.

The winning time was 1:42.24. It earned Journalism a 108 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form, which ties for the highest recorded by a 3-year-old this year.

“Obviously that’s a pretty lofty number,” McCarthy said. “We expected certainly a solid effort coming off a short layoff. 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 and Robert V. LaPenta. He previously won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) 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 Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 5 is the “most likely scenario” for Journalism’s return.

Formidable Man, aided by a top ride from Rispoli, earned his second Grade 1 win in the Kilroe Mile. In November, the now 4-year-old colt by City of Light won the Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar.

“He’s a proven Grade 1-caliber horse. I think his performance (Saturday) was the best we’ve seen from him, and that was a world-class ride from Umberto,” McCarthy said.

Formidable Man rallied up the rail in the Kilroe to win by a half-length in a time of 1:34.57. 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 American Stakes (G3) at a mile on turf on April 20 at Santa Anita as a potential lead-in to the Shoemaker Mile (G1) 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 Megahertz (G3), 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.

Liguria is a 5-year-old mare by War Front. Owned by Alpha Delta Stables, she improved to 10: 4-1-1 with $374,200 in earnings. McCarthy mentioned the Gamely (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 26 at Santa Anita as a potential target.