Belmont Park: McGaughey ready to regroup
ELMONT, N.Y. - It’s not just in the Belmont Stakes where trainer Shug McGaughey will try and reload. In addition to sending out Kentucky Derby winner Orb, the beaten favorite in the Preakness, McGaughey on Saturday will run Point of Entry in the Manhattan, Hungry Island in the Just a Game, and the vastly improved sprinter Reload in the True North.
On Monday morning at Belmont Park, with light rain falling, Reload worked a half-mile in company with stablemate Admiral Perry in 48.91 seconds over a main track rated sloppy. In the True North, Reload will be seeking his third straight win, having captured allowance races in his last two starts at Keeneland and then Belmont Park. The Grade 2, $400,000 True North will be his first try in a graded stakes.
“He’s really stepped up his last two starts,” McGaughey said. “We’ll see if he’s ready for that class.”
Reload’s rivals are scheduled to include Caixa Eletronica, Fast Bullet, Justin Phillip, Laurie’s Rocket, Off the Jak, Pass You Bye Bye, and Sage Valley. Hardened Wildcat, and Luckysdream are possible.