McGaughey shipping Radio Days up for Busher Invitational

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It’s been a decade since trainer Shug McGaughey has run a horse at Aqueduct in the month of March. That is expected to change next week when the Hall of Famer ships up Radio Days from South Florida for the $250,000 Busher Invitational on March 5.

Radio Days, a daughter of Gun Runner owned by Joe Allen, won a first-level allowance by 8 1/2 lengths on Dec. 2 at Aqueduct. That followed a debut victory at Belmont going six furlongs Oct. 31.

In her 3-year-old debut, Radio Days finished second, one length behind a loose-on-the-lead Girl With a Dream, in the Grade 3 Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Girl With a Dream was winning her third consecutive race in the Forward Gal.

McGaughey’s last starter in March at Aqueduct was Streaker, who finished fifth in the 2012 Bolo Brat overnight stakes. McGaughey’s last March winner at Aqueduct was Daydreaming, who took the Grade 3 Next Move in 2005. McGaughey won the 2002 Busher with Bema.

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The winner of the Busher, a one-turn mile, earns 50 qualifying points to the Kentucky Oaks on May 6.

Others expected for the Busher include Magic Circle, the Busanda winner; Shotgun Hottie, the Ruthless winner; Sterling Silver, the Franklin Square winner; and Venti Valentine, the Maid of the Mist winner who finished second behind Nest in the Grade 2 Demoiselle.