McGaughey: Mr Speaker 'On the Right Track'

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey was still tickled Sunday morning, one day after Mr Speaker upset an international field to win the Grade 1, $1.25 million Belmont Derby Invitational, one of five graded events on the inaugural Stars & Stripes Festival card. More than 11,000 guests were at Belmont Park to watch as the Phipps homebred held off the favored European, Adelaide, to win the 1 ¼-mile turf race by a neck.

 

"I thought yesterday was a great day; it's fun to go over there when there's a buzz," said McGaughey. "There were people in the box seats, people on the apron, people around the paddock, and they were all enthusiastic. I saw people in the box seats yesterday that the only other time you saw them was on Belmont Stakes Day. I think they can really build on these days."

 

McGaughey said the Mr Speaker returned from his winning effort in good shape but had no idea where he would next appear. Although he had two Grade 3 wins on his resume - the Coolmore Lexington at Keeneland Race Course and the Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park - Mr Speaker was 23-1 off a fifth- and last-place finish as the favorite in the Belmont Derby's prep race, the Pennine Ridge on May 26.

 

"When this horse ran second in the Palm Beach [missing by a half-length after an eventful run from last], I thought we might have a pretty nice horse with as much trouble as he had," said McGaughey of the March 1 race. "In the Pennine Ridge, everything went wrong. But from that day until yesterday, everything went right. He was good in the paddock, good at the post.  I think we're on the right track with him, and I think there's more there, too."

 

McGaughey reported that Norumbega, a well-backed eighth in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap, came back fine, as well.

 

"I think he probably got a little farther back [10th] than he would like," said the trainer. "We'll probably freshen him up a little bit and look at the Woodward [Grade 1, August 30, Saratoga]. He's run twice on the dirt at Saratoga and won both times."

 

Next Saturday, McGaughey will attempt to notch another turf stakes when he sends Reflecting out in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap. The 5-year-old son of Elusive Quality worked a half-mile on the inner turf in 49.61 Sunday morning along with the Grade 1 Diana-bound Abaco.

 

"I thought he ran good the last time," said McGaughey of Reflecting's third-place finish in the Belmont Gold Cup on June 6, in which he was beaten one length at the end of two miles. "He's done really well since that race, so I'm looking forward to running him. He worked with Mr Speaker last week and he worked as well as he did. We'll see."