For the second straight year, someone with the last name McGaughey captured the $200,0000 Grade 3 Comely at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y. This year, it was not Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, but rather his son and former assistant J. Reeve McGaughey capturing his first graded stakes victory with Bees and Honey.
Owned by Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen, Bees and Honey, a chestnut Union Rags sophomore filly, registered a 96 Beyer Speed Figure for her effort in the Comely, which last year was won by the Joseph Allen homebred Mrs. Danvers for the elder McGaughey.
“It's pretty exciting,” said Reeve McGaughey. “I certainly appreciate the owners giving me the opportunity. This is my first horse for Gainesway, but I've had one or two for Mr. Rosen. He's always been very fair and a good owner for me.”
McGaughey, who went out on his own in 2020, expressed pride in capturing his first graded stakes race on the NYRA circuit.
“It's exciting to win a graded race in New York like the Comely which has a long history behind it,” McGaughey said. “The filly seems like she came out of the race in good shape. She'll come back down to Lexington on Sunday and from there we'll see where she goes next.”
McGaughey said he learned a number of valuable lessons during his time spent working with his Hall of Fame father.
“Just that you can't control everything – they're horses,” McGaughey said. “As long as you believe in what you're doing, you'll be alright.”
McGaughey said his belief in what he thought was a strong work last Saturday over the main track at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., prompted him to ship Bees and Honey to Aqueduct for the Comely.
“It was in the back of our minds, but we didn't decide to go until her last work,” McGaughey said. “She's not an overly exciting work horse and she put in what I consider a really good work, so it was a race worth trying and it paid off.”
McGaughey, who will have 15 stalls at Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Fla., said his newly crowned graded stakes-winner will receive a freshening with a spring and summer campaign in mind.
“She's probably getting a bit of a break now,” McGaughey said. “She wants to run a mile and an eighth or further and there aren't many options over the winter. She's had a pretty busy half of the year from July on and handled it all well. We'll freshen her up a bit. She may go to Ocala or straight to Tampa with me.”
The post Bees And Honey Gets A Break Following Comely Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
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