There have been 23 horses win the Kentucky Derby, then the Preakness Stakes — and, then, fall short in the Belmont Stakes, which is typically run at a mile and a half at the conclusion of a grueling five-week stretch of racing, training and traveling.

For McCarthy, the 54-year-old former assistant to Todd Pletcher, the Preakness was his second career Triple Crown triumph. He sent Rombauer to the winner’s circle in the 2021 Preakness. Rombauer then cashed a show ticket in the Belmont Stakes.

Kentucky Derby runner-up and Preakness winner Journalism has opened as the favorite in the Belmont Stakes to close out the Triple Crown.