McGaughey a factor in late pick-four races

ELMONT, N.Y. – There is a pretty solid 10-race card scheduled for Friday at Belmont Park with a nice mix of maiden and allowance races for turf and dirt. Trainer Shug McGaughey looks to have a significant impact on how the late pick 4 will play out.

McGaughey has runners in each of the last four races on Friday’s card – which may be hampered by forecasted showers. First post Friday is 12:20 p.m.

In the seventh, a second-level allowance scheduled for seven furlongs on the Widener turf course, McGaughey sends out Secure Connection. Three starts back, she was in for a $40,000 claiming price. Last out, she won a $100,000 allowance race at Kentucky Downs.

“The race that she won was really good,” McGaughey said. “She has been training good here and I think she’ll run good on Friday.”

Regarding the seven furlongs of this race, McGaughey said Secure Connection “seems like she wants to be a come-from-behind sprinter.”

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There should be speed with Kitten’s Covergirl and Bradenbury in the field.

In race 8, a maiden special for 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on dirt, McGaughey will have Ten for Ten, a son of Frosted who finished second going six furlongs at Saratoga. McGaughey is adding blinkers for this start.

“I worked him here a couple of times after he ran, it just felt like by himself he was getting lost,” McGaughey said. “Came back, worked him with blinkers on and I thought he was a little more focused. I think three-quarters was too short for him ... I knew that but I wanted to get a race in him before we left [Saratoga] This distance will suit him.”

Rational Choice, Savoy, and Constitutional Law are others to consider.

In race 9, a first-level allowance at 1 1/8 miles on turf, McGaughey sends out Windfall Profit, who was beaten three-quarters of a length when fourth in this same condition on Sept. 18.

Windfall Profit got bumped at the break and “lost some position because of that,” McGaughey said.

“I thought she was a kind of unlucky,” McGaughey said.

Friday’s race is scheduled for 1 1/8 miles, which will be the farthest Windfall Profit has run.

“She’s been doing really well,” McGaughey said. “Her mother wanted to run long. I think a mile and an eighth will be perfect for her. I’m looking forward to running her.”

McGaughey sends out No Ordinary Time in race 10, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies. No Ordinary Time set the pace and finished fourth to Lovestruck in her debut on closing day at Saratoga.

“Her first race was good,” McGaughey said. “She broke hard and was there and pulling a little bit. I think she’ll be more relaxed this time. She’ll be forwardly placed.”

Evvie Jets, Linear Thinking, and Reina Del Sol looks like the ones to beat.