Civil Union targets Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Shug McGaughey has taken the conservative route with Civil Union most of the year. But after her victory over My Sister Nat in Saturday’s Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont Park, and after consulting with owner Joe Allen, McGaughey will send Civil Union to Keeneland for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 7.

Owner Joe Allen “feels like if she comes out of it well, it’s worth taking a chance,” McGaughey said Sunday morning.

As of Sunday, at least, Civil Union came out of the victory in good shape.

Civil Union has won four consecutive races, three coming at Belmont Park. McGaughey said he doesn’t feel the Keeneland course, which is not quite as wide as Belmont, will pose any problems. Last year, when trained by Chad Brown, Civil Union finished second in an allowance race at Keeneland.

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“Weather would be a concern more than the configuration,” said McGaughey, who would prefer to run Civil Union on a firm course.

Trainer Chad Brown said My Sister Nat, the Flower Bowl runner-up, is 50-50 to run in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, which will be run at 1 3/16 miles.

“She does have some stakes wins at a mile and an eighth, so she’s run at a shorter distance before,” Brown said. “She seems to be an improving horse, she’s really coming around now. With the right pace scenario and trip, she might be able to get a mile and-three sixteenths.”

If My Sister Nat does run in the Filly and Mare Turf, she will join her half-sister, Sistercharlie, in the race. Sistercharlie won the 2018 Filly and Mare Turf. Brown is also pointing Rushing Fall to that race.

On Sunday, Sistercharlie and Rushing Fall worked five furlongs together in 1:01.05 over the Belmont turf course.