Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey is gearing up for exciting races at Belmont at the Big A with a focus on stakes-winner Corporate Power and graded stakes-placed Cugino. Both horses are coming off recent training efforts at Belmont Park as they prepare for their upcoming races.
Corporate Power: This Curlin-sired runner, owned by Courtlandt Farms, had a tough outing in the Travers (G1), finishing sixth, but prior to that, he had a strong campaign, including a victory in the Sir Barton Stakes and a runner-up finish in the Curlin Stakes. His second breeze since the Travers saw him clock three furlongs in 36.65 seconds. McGaughey is eyeing the $150,000 Discovery Stakes for Corporate Power on November 3, stating, "He seems to be doing fine... no sense in stopping now."
Bred in Kentucky, Corporate Power has a solid record of 6 starts with 2 wins and 2 second-place finishes, indicating his potential for continued success.
Cugino: Another promising talent, Cugino is a son of Twirling Candy who showed his ability with a notable victory in the Audubon Stakes and narrowly missed a win in the Transylvania Stakes (G3). However, his last race in the Nashville Derby (G3) did not go as planned, fading to last. McGaughey expressed his confusion about that performance, indicating it didn’t reflect the horse’s capabilities.
Looking ahead, Cugino could be entered in multiple upcoming events, possibly the 1 3/8-mile Jockey Club Derby on October 5 or the 1 1/8-mile Hill Prince Stakes on November 9. "I’ll take a look at the next race coming up, but there is also the race for 3-year-olds in the first part of November," McGaughey remarked.
Additionally, the article highlights Battle of Normandy, Cugino’s half-brother, who is scheduled to run in an optional claimer at Aqueduct. This 4-year-old has improved with the addition of blinkers, contributing to recent successes in New York.
As these horses prepare for their upcoming races, McGaughey’s plans reflect confidence in both their abilities and prospects for success on the racetrack.