Inside Information a fitting victory for McGaughey and Pink Sands

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Shug McGaughey won Shirley Jones at Gulfstream Park on three occasions. But he had not even started a horse in the seven-furlong fixture for fillies and mares since it was re-named the Inside Information in 2009 in honor of the great Hall of Fame mare he trained to six Grade 1 victories, including the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

So it was only appropriate that McGaughey’s first attempt to win the $200,000 Inside Information resulted in victory after his versatile Pink Sands rallied from last to a three-length victory over Wildwood’s Beauty here Saturday. Nonna Madeline finished third.

Pink Sands benefited from a lightning fast pace and a perfectly judged ride by jockey Jose Ortiz, who had guided the daughter of Tapit to a last-to-first half-length triumph in the Grade 3 Rampart five weeks earlier. Ortiz allowed Pink Sands to settle at the rear of the field as Liza Star, Blamed, and J P’s Delight disputed a blistering 22.47 and 45.34 -second opening quarter and half-mile. Pink Sands advanced leaving the backstretch, angled well outside to continue her rally into the stretch, then finished full of run down the center of the track to readily run down Wildwood’s Beauty and win going away.

Wildwood’s Beauty checked back briefly while rating within easy striking distance of the early leaders, swung wide and forged to command between calls at mid-stretch but proved no match for the winner. Nonna Madeline rallied near the inside to finish third, a neck in front of 8-5 favorite Spiced Perfection.

The win was the sixth in 18 starts for Pink Sands, who also captured the Lady’s Secret Stakes going a mile and one-sixteenth last summer at Monmouth Park. Owned in partnership by Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen, Pink Sands returned $12.60 after completing the distance in 1:23.42 over a fast track.

“It’s always fun to participate in these type of races, especially when it’s named after a horse you trained and was as good as her,” said McGaughey. “And to win makes it all the more fun.”

McGaughey called Pink Sands effort in the Inside Information “her best race yet.”

“She’s gotten good, she likes this track,” McGaughey said. “She had the pace in front of her. Twenty-two and Forty-five is pretty quick going seven-eighths. She’s pretty versatile, although I don’t know if two turns is her best deal. Seven furlongs to a mile is probably best for her. But a race like this gives us a lot of options, although I’ve got nothing picked out for her at the moment.”