Shug McGaughey

Winngate Stables LLC's very promising Kathleen O. (Upstart) remained undefeated and stamped herself as a leading GI Kentucky Oaks contender with another impressive victory in Saturday's GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream. Backed down to 2-1 favoritism from a 9-2 morning line, the rail-drawn dark bay trailed the deep field of seven early. Up a spot into sixth following an opening quarter in :23.38, she was under a ride rounding the far turn while racing in between horses. Stuck in a little traffic approaching the quarter pole, Javier Castellano found...

A field of seven, including a pair of promising unbeaten 3-year-old fillies, will line up in Saturday's GII Davona Dale S. going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream. The rail-drawn Kathleen O. (Upstart) could be any kind after delivering impressively in her first two attempts. The dark bay rallied from the back to post a head-turning 8 1/2-length victory after an eventful start in the track-and-trip Cash Run S. last time Jan. 1. "You never know they're going to be this kind," Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said. "She had...

A pair of highly touted sophomores returned to make their 4-year-old debuts with mixed results Sunday. First Captain (Curlin), sent off the 4-5 favorite in a seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream Sunday, looked to have left himself too much to do before making a furious late rally to win by a head in his first start since finishing third in the Curlin S. last summer. The 'TDN Rising Star' and $1.5-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling won last year's GIII Dwyer S. for West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm, Bobby Flay and Woodford Racing...

10th-Gulfstream, $56,000, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 2-27, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:22.19, ft, head. FIRST CAPTAIN (c, 4, Curlin--America {GSW & MGISP, $580,532}, by A.P. Indy) faced a small but competitive field for his 4-year-old debut, including GSWs Trophy Chaser (Twirling Candy) and Dennis' Moment (Tiznow)--the latter also a 'TDN Rising Star'--as well as black-type winners Real Talk (Gemologist) and Hello Hot Rod (Mosler). A 'TDN Rising Star' himself, First Captain was slowest of all out of the stalls, yet kept in touch with the tightly packed field from the back. Nearly...

A pair of highly regarded sophomores of 2021 are on the comeback trail for Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. Courtlandt Farm's homebred Greatest Honour (Tapit--Tiffany's Honour, by  Street Cry {Ire}) was a serious early contender for the GI Kentucky Derby following flashy wins in Gulfstream's GIII Holy Bull S. and GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. last winter. After finishing a flat third as the 4-5 favorite in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 27, however, McGaughey decided to hit the reset button on the bay. "I wasn't really pleased...

Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Radio Days (Gun Runner) launches her sophomore campaign in Saturday's GIII Forward Gal S. at Gulfstream Park. Owned by Allen Stable Inc. and trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the $750,000 KEESEP graduate made it two-for-two in a blowout optional claiming victory at this same seven-furlong distance at Aqueduct last time Dec. 2. Her worktab includes a four-furlong bullet in :48 3/5 (1/19) at Payson Jan. 12. "She's a filly we're really excited about. Her first two races have been really good," McGaughey said. "She's...

4th-Tampa Bay Downs, $25,000, Msw, 1-26, 4yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:12.62, sy, 7 3/4 lengths. NETTE NETTE (f, 4, Empire Maker--Vaulcluse {SW}, by A.P. Indy), a $950,000 Keeneland September graduate, made the trip up from South Florida and splashed home to debut as a much-the-best winner. Away in mid-division as the even-money pick, the a half-sister to Lukes Alley (Flower Alley), Ch. Older Horse-Can, GISW-US, MGSW-Can, $795,122; and to once-beaten 'TDN Rising Star' Arrifana (Curlin), SW & GSP, $230,400, tugged Pablo Morales to the front after the completion of a quarter-mile....

January 26 Insights: Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 4th-TAM, $28K, Msw, 4yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:45 p.m. Allen Stable's went to $950,000 to acquire NETTE NETTE (Empire Maker) at KEESEP and she makes her career bow in this spot for Shug McGaughey. Out of SW Vaulcluse (A.P. Indy), the dark bay is a half to Canadian champion and Grade I winner Lukes Alley (Flower Alley) and SW & GSP Arrifana (Curlin). TJCIS PPs

The sport is not supposed to be that easy, even if some people make it look that way sometimes. Pat Kearney is 83, admits he doesn't know much about racing, has a fairly modest budget and had never owned a horse when he showed up last year at the OBS April 2-year-old sale. Fast forward some eight months later and Kearney is the owner of Kathleen O. (Upstart), one of the more promising 3-year-old fillies in racing right now. Making her second career start Saturday at Gulfstream, Kathleen O. won...

Kathleen O. (Upstart), a $275,000 OBSAPR breezer (:21 1/5), went last to first to graduate by a head in a key race featuring a pair of next-out winners in the Aqueduct mud going seven furlongs on debut Nov. 12. In no hurry after a very slow start from her inside draw in Saturday's Cash Run S. at Gulfstream, Kathleen O. raced in sixth through sharp fractions of :22.74 and :44.94, and finally entered the frame with a flashy, sweeping move approaching the quarter pole. She set her sights on the...

   Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB} - Reunited, by Dixie Union) arrived at Lane's End Farm, where he will stand the 2022 season, early in the morning hours of Tuesday, Dec. 7. The multiple Grade I winner was bred and raced by W.S. Farish and earned nearly $3 million over his four-year career. "It's a really fun day for all of us at Lane's End," Bill Farish said after watching the homebred take in his new surroundings at the Lane's End stud barn. "Code of Honor coming home is...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency WELL-BRED GHOSTZAPPER DEBUTS IN NY 2nd-AQU, $80K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1m, 12:20 p.m. Joe Allen went to $400,000 at FTFMAR for GLAMOROUS DAYS (Ghostzapper) after a :21 4/5 breeze and she debuts here for Shug McGaughey. She is a daughter of dual Grade I winner Life At Ten (Malibu Moon). TJCIS PPs   BAUER UNVEILS PRICEY INTO MISCHIEF 7th-OP, $84K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 4:19 p.m. Rigney Racing's LITTLE MOMBO (Into Mischief) makes his career bow in this spot for trainer Phil Bauer. The $500,000...