SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Michael McCarthy would like nothing more than to have the wildly popular Journalism (Curlin) return to Saratoga Race Course this summer.“It would be awfully nice if he could,” McCarthy said just outside Journalism's stall at the Oklahoma Training Track Thursday morning. “Saratoga, as I keep on saying, is a magical place for horses and people alike. We would be more than happy to bring him back here if the opportunity presented itself.”First things first.Journalism, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert V. La Penta, Elayne Stables Five, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith, is part of a loaded $1 million GI Met Mile on Saturday.Journalism is the 5-2 second choice behind the imposing 9-5 morning-line favorite Nysos (Nyquist). The field also includes Grade I winners Antiquarian (Preservationist) and Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) as well as Knightsbridge (Nyquist), Rated By Merit (Battalion Runner) and Vibe (Into Mischief).A year ago, Journalism engaged in a Triple Crown war with Sovereignty (Into Mischief). Journalism was favored in all three legs and finished second to Sovereignty in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont and won the GI Preakness.The Met Mile will be his second start of the year, following a third-place finish in the GII Oaklawn Handicap behind White Abarrio (Race Day) and Sovereignty.Trainer Michael McCarthy with Journalism | Sarah Andrew“There are a lot of good things going on this weekend,” McCarthy, who is based in California, said. “One of them happens to be the Met Mile and Journalism back again this year. It's great for racing and great for everyone involved that he has stuck around. We are hoping for a fruitful 4-year-old campaign before he heads off to stud.”Journalism will be ridden in the Met Mile by Jose Ortiz, who will be on board for the third consecutive start. For his career, Journalism has six wins, three seconds and two thirds in 12 starts. His only off-the-board finish came when he was fourth in the 2025 GI Breeders' Cup Classic.“He is an incredible specimen,” McCarthy said. “Not only in his physical frame, but in the mental attributes he brings with him. He is certainly a different type or horse. He makes everything easy. He is an easy read.” Casse Says Nitrogen Has Plenty Left In TankFollowing a championship season as a 3-year-old, Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) has been slow out of the gate in 2026. The 4-year-old filly is not worrying her trainer, Hall of Famer Mark Casse one bit.He expects a huge effort from the D J Stable homebred, who is the 7-5 morning-line favorite in Friday's $500,000 GI Ogden Phipps at 1 1/8-miles at Saratoga Race Course.Last year, on her way to the Eclipse Award as the nation's best 3-year-old filly, Nitrogen won six of nine — including the GI Alabama on the dirt and three graded stakes on grass.Nitrogen | Sarah AndrewSo far this year, she has a win (GIII Bayakoa Stakes), a third (GII Azeri Stakes) and a second (GI Apple Blossom Handicap), all at Oaklawn Park.“Her first race (Bayakoa) was very good, one of her best performances,” Casse said this week. “Her second start (Azeri, on a sloppy track) was disappointing without a doubt, probably the worst race she has ever run in her life. The first thing Jose (jockey Ortiz) said to me when he came back was that she was exhausted; he had never seen her so tired.”Nitrogen verified Casse's opinion that the filly just didn't like the slop at Oaklawn that day when she ran a solid second in the Apple Blossom on a fast track.With Nitrogen now another year older, there is speculation that she might not want her life to be revolved around racing. Casse isn't buying that either.“She has run two of the highest Beyers she has run in her life,” he said, referring to a pair of 97s thus far this year. “I have trained plenty of those kinds of horses and they don't have to be fillies. I have seen colts get to a point in their lives where they don't want to be racehorses anymore. I think she is far from that. I am expecting a big effort.”It certainly doesn't hurt that Nitrogen is back at Saratoga. In two career starts at the Spa, Nitrogen is undefeated.Besides the Alabama, she won the GIII Wonder Again last year, which was taken off the grass. Nitrogen won that–albeit against just two rivals–by 17 lengths and that prompted Casse to target the Alabama and a dirt campaign.“It has been an up and down season for her so far,” Casse said. “But she is happy and as big and strong as I have ever seen her.” Russell Rolling The Dice With Taj Mahal In Woody StephensNineteen days ago, trainer Brittany Russell had the favorite for the GI Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park in Taj Mahal (Nyquist). The 4-1 choice set the pace early and then faded late, finishing 10th, 13 3/4 lengths behind Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map).Perhaps a surprise to some, Taj Mahal showed up on the entries for Saturday's $500,000 GI Woody Stephens at Saratoga Race Course. Russell knows she is making a big ask of her colt, who won his first three starts–all at Laurel–by nearly 13 lengths.“You know, sometimes you've got to take a shot, right?” Russell said by phone from Maryland. “Look, they got the horses they expected. Is it ideal for us to have to cut back against them? No. But it's a horse race and things can fall apart, and you just never know.”Taj Mahal | Sarah AndrewTaj Mahal's early dominance came in races going six furlongs (4 1/4 length win), a mile (win by a neck) and 1 1/8 miles (8 1/4 length win). After the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, Russell wanted to see how Taj Mahal would do running shorter.“After the Preakness, we definitely have our doubts about him going a route of ground against better types of horses,” Russell said. “Would I have appreciated a softer spot to try the cut back?…”By going to the Woody Stephens Russell is surely tossing Taj Mahal into the deep end of the pool. But she has some faith despite going up against eight foes including Crude Velocity (Beau Liam), Englishman (Maxfield), Solitude Dude (Yaupon) and Obliteration (Violence).“It's a horse race and things can fall apart,” Russell said. “You never know. We are throwing him into it. Bob's (Baffert's) horse (Crude Velocity) is enough, but I guess these horses are bought to do these things.”Sheldon Russell, Brittany's husband, rode Taj Mahal in his first four starts. Prior commitments are keeping Sheldon in Maryland. Taj Mahal will be ridden Saturday for the first time by Manny Franco.Taj Mahal, owned by the partnership of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor Racing LLC, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan, is 15-1 on the morning line.He shares the longest odds on the line with Stradale (Yaupon).“This will tell us a lot,” said Russell, who adds Taj Mahal doesn't have to be on the lead. “We need to know what we have. He might run the race of his life, and he might not be right there. I am realistic about it. As much as I love our horse, I know I am throwing him into a war.”The post Belmont Notes: Journalism Might Make Return Trip To Saratoga This Summer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.