Tag: Shug McGaughey

Kentucky Derby prospect Mo Donegal broke his maiden in his second try -- and longest race. He's the 8/5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct. (Image: Coglianese Photos)

The Remsen Stakes Give You Derby Prospect Info — With Grains of Salt

- 3 min read

As the latest stop on the Kentucky Derby trail, Saturday’s Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct introduces new faces to the Derby trail. But while you’re getting to know 8/5 favorite Mo Donegal and 5/2 second choice Zandon, re-acquaint yourself with another pertinent name. That would be Thunder Gulch. He’s […]

Art Collector and jockey Luis Saez's gutsy victory in the Charles Town Classic sets them up for Saturday's Grade 1 Woodward Stakes. Art Collector is the 3/1 third-favorite to win his first Grade 1. (Image: Coady Photography)

Woodward Stakes Returns to Belmont Park With Wide Open Field

- 4 min read

The Grade 1 Woodward Stakes returns to Belmont Park for the first time since 2005, bringing with it a field full of intriguing characters at varying points in their careers. And all seeking validation for where they are in those varying points. One of two Grade 1s on Belmont Park’s […]

Code of Honor captured the Dwyer Stakes as a sophomore. As a more mature 5-year-old, he seeks his first win in 14 1/2 months in Saturday's Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park. (Image: NYRA Photo)

A Mature Code of Honor Returns for Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park

- 3 min read

The 3-year-old Code of Honor was one of the most dominant horses of his age group. The 4-year-old Code of Honor was one of the most disappointing. So now, after a seven-month layoff, what will we see from the 5-year-old Code of Honor? His answer comes in Saturday’s Grade 3 […]

We won't see Greatest Honour close like he did in the Holy Bull for the next two months. The Tapit colt and one-time, front-row Kentucky Derby prospect suffered an apparent ankle injury and is shelved for the next 60 days. (Image: Gulfstream Park)

Ankle Injury Makes Greatest Honour Latest Derby Trail Casualty

- 3 min read

Greatest Honour, one of the front-line Kentucky Derby favorites and a rare Shug McGaughey Derby prospect, departed the Derby trail Wednesday with apparent ankle issues. McGaughey told Horse Racing Nation that Greatest Honour came out of his third-place finish in the Florida Derby “a little banged up.” The Hall of […]

After their resounding Southwest Stakes victory, Essential Quality and Luis Saez point to either the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland or the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn. (Image: Coady Photography)

What’s Next on the Derby Trail for Essential Quality, Greatest Honour?

- 3 min read

Essential Quality and Greatest Honour came out of their weekend Kentucky Derby prep victories none the worse for their victorious efforts. And, their respective trainers have already plotted their next stops on the Derby trail. Essential Quality, who splashed through the Oaklawn Park slop for a 4 ¼-length victory over […]

One of the Kentucky Derby futures favorites, Greatest Honour is the 9/5 morning-line favorite to win Saturday's Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park. (Image: Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photography)

Drinking From This Fountain of Youth Often Portends Derby Dreams

- 4 min read

Once you get past the obvious, that Greatest Honour is clearly the favorite to add the Fountain of Youth to his Gulfstream Park Kentucky Derby prep resume, this race opens up a wealth of other storylines. Can Fire At Will handle dirt as well as he handled turf? Is Prime […]

Greatest Honour (left) captured Saturday's Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park by 5 3/4 lengths. His Kentucky Derby futures odds plummeted as a result. (Image: Coglianese Photos)

Greatest Honour Piggy-Backs Gulfstream to Holy Bull Record Handle

- 3 min read

As Greatest Honour joined the front row of Kentucky Derby contenders, he helped carry Gulfstream Park to a record Holy Bull handle day on Saturday. The south Florida track rolled up a total handle of $21.87 million. That surpassed last year’s total handle by 20% and blew past 2017’s previous […]

Colonel Liam put on stars with this resounding Tropical Park Derby victory last month. He is the 7/2 morning-line favorite in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf. (Image: Lauren King/Coglianese Photos)

Colonel Liam Leads Pletcher Charge in $1 Million Pegasus Turf

- 4 min read

As strange as it is to understand, turf maestro Chad Brown doesn’t have a horse in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf. Meanwhile, his East Coast training rival, Todd Pletcher, is bringing three charges to what is typically the best winter turf route race of the year. Before we […]

Fighting Mad captured the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes last May over Hard Not To Love. The two meet again in Saturday's Grade 2 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita Park. (Image: Benoit Photo)

The Older Set Takes Over the Stakes Spotlight at Santa Anita, Gulfstream

- 3 min read

Last week, the sophomores stole the stage. Now, it’s the older horses’ turn to seize the stakes spotlight, dim as it may be this weekend. This weekend’s stakes schedule doesn’t scream “high profile.” After all, 2021’s first Grade 1s are still two weeks away. But, it does raise its voice […]

Todd Pletcher usually has a reason to smile around Gulfstream Park. He sends a quarter of the 12-horse field into the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. (Image: Coglianese Photography)

Pletcher’s Trio Leads Pegasus World Cup Turf Invite List

- 4 min read

Todd Pletcher’s considerable depth at Gulfstream Park manifested itself again when the Hall of Fame trainer snagged three of the 16 invites to the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, the companion race to the Pegasus World Cup Invitational. The Grade 1, 1-3/16-mile Pegasus Turf runs Jan. 23 as […]

Performer is 5-for-6 lifetime, including his lone graded stakes victory last year in the Discovery Stakes at Aqueduct. He is the 7/5 morning line favorite to win the Grade 1 Cigar Mile. (Image: Coglianese Photo)

Performer, King Guillermo, Firenze Fire Make for a Smooth Cigar Mile

- 4 min read

King Guillermo is back for the Cigar Mile, seven months after he last entered a starting gate. You’ve also got sprinting standout Firenze Fire stretching out to a mile. And your Cigar Mile favorite – Performer – makes only his second start in 11-½ months. When it comes to betting […]

Code of Honor's Jockey Club Gold Cup victory in 2019 was one of his four 3-year-old wins. He figures to be the favorite in Friday's Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs. (Image: Sophie Shore/Eclipse Sportswire)

Code of Honor Seeking Salvation in Clark Stakes

- 3 min read

He is almost certain to be overbet, based on his 3-year-old campaign. But in Friday’s Grade 1 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs, the question is, will we see the sophomore sensation Code of Honor or the jittery, junior Code of Honor? Code of Honor owns the biggest name of the […]

Code of Honor's most impressive victory of 2019 came at the Travers Stakes in August. He opens his 4-year-old season Saturday at Belmont Park. (Image: Associated Press)

Code of Honor Seeks Another Mission at Saturday’s Westchester Stakes

- 3 min read

Code of Honor’s resume reflects a horse who deserves more credit than just completing the back end of a wild exacta at last year’s Kentucky Derby. And Saturday, last year’s official runner-up in the Derby, opens his 4-year-old campaign in the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at Belmont Park. The 1 […]