Photo:

Tim Sudduth / Eclipse Sportswire

Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey sent out a slew of workers over the weekend at Belmont Park including stakes-winner Corporate Power and graded stakes-placed Cugino, who both have races on the horizon at Belmont at the Big A.

Corporate Power, campaigned by Courtlandt Farms, was a last-out sixth in the 1 1/4-mile Travers (G1) on Aug. 24 at Saratoga. The Curlin bay was previously second in his sire’s namesake race at the Spa after winning the Sir Barton in May at Pimlico Race Course.

On Saturday, Corporate Power completed his second breeze back since the Travers, covering three furlongs in 36.65 seconds. McGaughey said he will target the nine-furlong $150,000 Discovery on Nov. 3 at Belmont at the Big A.

“He seems to be doing fine. This was his second work since the Travers. He had a good work,” said McGaughey. “I plan on running him in the Discovery in the first part of November at Aqueduct.”

Corporate Power debuted as a sophomore in January at Gulfstream Park ahead of a second-out graduation going nine furlongs there in February. In total, he boasts a 6: 2-2-0 record and McGaughey said his strong campaign will continue.

“He’s been running good – not in the Travers, but in all of his other races. He seems to be fine. No sense in stopping now,” McGaughey said.

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Corporate Power, out of the graded stakes winning Quality Road mare Road to Victory, was a $925,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Cugino is a sophomore who has also made six starts this year, highlighted by a 4 1/4-length turf win in the Audubon, going 1 1/8 miles on turf June 1 at Churchill Downs. The Twirling Candy bay earned a graded placing when defeated a nose in the 1 1/16-mile Transylvania (G3) in April over good Keeneland turf.

In Cugino’s last effort, he went off at odds of 3-1 in the 12-horse Nashville Derby (G3) on August 31 at Kentucky Downs, and faded to last going the 1 5/16 miles in the event won by Bellum Justum.

“I don’t really understand his race at Kentucky Downs,” said McGaughey. “I don’t think the distance was the problem. Last race was a cross out. I don’t know why he ran bad.”

McGaughey said that he will consider a variety of options for Cugino at the Big A, including the 1 3/8-mile, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby (G3) on Oct. 5 and the 1 1/8-mile, $200,000 Hill Prince (G3) on Nov. 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 said. “I’ll take a look at the (Jockey Club Derby), but I don’t know if he’ll run there.”

Cugino, out of the dual stakes-winning Kitten’s Joy mare Adorable Miss, was a $225,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His older half-brother, dual graded stakes-placed Battle of Normandy, is soon to compete at Aqueduct.

Battle of Normandy, who placed in the With Anticipation (G3) as a juvenile at the Spa and Dueling Grounds Derby (G3) last year at Kentucky Downs, is set to contest a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer, Friday’s second race at Belmont at Aqueduct.   

The 4-year-old City of Light bay added blinkers to begin his current campaign, finishing ninth in an off-the-turf event in April at Churchill Downs ahead of back-to-back wins in New York on the turf.

“His races have been pretty good. I think they (blinkers) have helped,” said McGaughey. “They were to get him focused, that’s all. They were to get his mind on what he is doing.”

Battle of Normandy has drawn post 5 in rein to Hall of Famer Joel Rosario. The field features Grade 1-placed Pioneering Spirit plus group/graded stakes-winners Kubrick, Andthewinneris, and Highest Distinction, along with three-time victor Utah Beach.