Reeve McGaughey Oversees Famous Father's Barn at Keeneland

A familiar face with a familiar name is back at Keeneland.

Reeve McGaughey, who handled two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan during the four years he worked for his uncle, trainer Charlie LoPresti, is here during the Spring Meet as the assistant to his father, Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey. The younger McGaughey, who is nearing his 27^th birthday, is overseeing a 12-horse string.

“It’s nice to come home for a little while. I grew up in Lexington,” said Reeve, who attended Sayre School and spent three years in the University of Kentucky’s Equine Science and Management Program.

Reeve’s family members involved in racing number quite a few people. His older brother, Chip, works at Keeneland as a Sales Associate; their mother, Mary Jane, works in the Keeneland Shop; and their aunt Mary is retired from Keeneland’s Sales Department. His mother’s sister, Amy, is LoPresti’s wife and assistant.

“I have just been around (racing) my whole life,” Reeve said. “I just grew up in it, and it never really entered my mind that I would do something else. Ever since I was old enough to have an idea of what I wanted to do, (training) is what I (wanted) to do.”

After a stint with trainer Eoin Harty, Reeve went to work for LoPresti. Wise Dan, he said, taught him “what a good horse is supposed to act like. He is extremely intelligent, he loved to train and he loved his job. He just did everything right – he had a class about everything.”

Wise Dan, who was based at Keeneland, retired last September. In December, Reeve moved to Florida to work for his father and continue his education.

“(While) working for him, I’ve seen a different style of caring for the horses – he has a very laid-back style of training,” Reeve said. “The horses are out of their stalls as long as possible, and he is all about having a good foundation underneath them.”

Reeve said he eventually would like to go out on his own, but he is in no hurry and is quite content in his current position that fulfills a lifelong dream.

“Some of my best memories as a kid growing up are at the race track,” he said, adding his earliest memory of Keeneland is watching his father win the 2001 Thoroughbred Club of America (G3) with Ogden Phipps’ Cat Cay. “I always liked the action of the race track, and I always wanted to be out here as much as possible.

“I would come to the barn with my mom in the morning before school and then again after school. (Chip) did not always like coming out to the barn, but I always wanted to go. But now that we are both (older), he loves coming out here. It’s funny how things work out.”

Reeve is not the only son of a trainer who is handling horses at Keeneland. Riley Mott is the assistant here for his father, Hall of Famer Bill Mott. Matt Sims is an assistant to his father, Phil Sims. Norman Casse, who is based at Churchill Downs, where he is the assistant to his father, Mark Casse, has traveled to Keeneland during the Spring Meet to saddle horses.

KEENELAND SALES GRADUATES HEADLINE DERBY, OAKS FIELDS

Twelve of the first 25 leading point earners on the Road to the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) onMay 7 and 10 of the 20 fillies bidding to race in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 6 are graduates of Keeneland sales.

The Derby hopefuls (listed in order of points earned) are Nyquist, Exaggerator, Brody's Cause, Creator, Mohaymen, Destin, Suddenbreakingnews, Tom’s Ready, Majesto, Mo Tom, Laoban and Dazzling Gem.

Of this group, all but one are graduates of the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Alumni of the sale have won 62 percent of prep races on the Road to the 2016 Kentucky Derby, led by Nyquist, winner of the Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1); Exaggerator (Santa Anita Derby-G1); Brody’s Cause (Toyota Blue Grass-G1); Creator (Arkansas Derby-G1) and Mohaymen (Fountain of Youth-G2).

Mohaymen made headlines at the September Sale when he commanded a price of $2.2 million from Shadwell Estate Co. Ltd. Breeder Clearsky Farms, agent, consigned the Tapit colt, who was the co-sale topper.

The Oaks contenders (listed in order of points earned) are Lewis Bay, Land Over Sea, Weep No More, Venus Valentine, Mokat, Royal Obsession, Nickname, Paola Queen, Carina Mia and Adore.

All but one of these fillies is a Keeneland September graduate.

May 1 is the deadline to enter this year’s September sale, which begins Sept. 12.

GALLOPING OUT

Skychai Racing’s Da Big Hoss, who capped a hat trick for trainer Mike Maker Saturday by winning the Dixiana Elkhorn (G2), returned to the Trackside Training Center in Louisville shortly after his victory.

Maker, who also won the second race with Successful Runner and the fifth with Try Your Luck, took over the lead in the race for leading trainer with nine victories at the three-quarter mark of the 16-day Spring Meet.

Maker has won three training titles at Keeneland, sweeping the Spring and Fall Meets in 2013 as well as the 2008 Fall Meet.

Kaigun, who finished a half-length behind Da Big Hoss in the Dixiana Ellkhorn, was doing well Sunday morning at Keeneland.

“He came out of it great,” said David Carroll, assistant to trainer Mark Casse. “He’s a true pro. He shows up every time.” …

Trainer Larry Jones said Fletcher and Carolyn Gray’s I’m a Chatterbox was doing well after her runner-up effort in Friday’s Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3).

“She’s fine. We’re just licking our wounds,” Jones said of the 4-year-old filly’s 2016 debut. “The ($1 million) Phipps (G1 onJune 11 at Belmont Park) is the main goal. I’ll check the calendar and see if there is enough time for another race before that. Usually they have a race Preakness Weekend that we’ve had success in.”

That race would be the $150,000 Allaire duPont Distaff (G3) at 1 1/8 miles on May 20. Jones won the race in 2008 with Buy the Barrel. …

Trainer Mark Cristel earned his first victory at Keeneland when he sent out Cheray to win Saturday’s first race. Corey Lanerie, who won four races on the card, rode the 4-year-old Stephen Got Even filly to a one-length victory in the one-mile allowance race. Their time was 1:37.90. Cristel’s Cristel Racing Stable owns Cheray with Ed Fisher and Linda Fisher.

WORK TAB

Jim and Susan Hill’s Grand Arch, winner of last fall’s Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) here, continued working toward a possible 2016 debut in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) on May 7 at Churchill Downs with a five-furlong work in 1:00.80 Sunday morning.

Trained by Brian Lynch, Grand Arch covered his first three furlongs in :36.20 over the firm course while working in company. Julien Leparoux was aboard the 7-year-old who closed 2015 with a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). 

PROBABLE ENTRANTS FOR REMAINING STAKES

$150,000 BEWITCH (G3) (entries taken Tuesday; race Friday, closing day) – Achnaha (IRE), Al’s Gal, Button Down (GB), Generosidade (URU), Olorda (GER), Personal Diary, Return to Grace.

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

                               Sunday, April 24

Military Day at the Races Presented by Marathon. Keeneland recognizes the men and women who serve our country. All active duty, reserve and veteran military members and their families receive free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating with a form of Military ID at any pass gate. A Military Family Zone in the North Terrace from noon-4 p.m. will feature food and live music. In honor of Month of the Military Child, Keeneland will offer games, crafts and face painting for children throughout the day. Trackside activities include music from the Kentucky National Guard 202^nd Quartet, special recognitions throughout the day and a flag rollout on the track.

SPRING MEET LEADERS

Through April 23 (12 days of racing)

*Includes partnerships.

Source: Keeneland