Preakness Stakes: Lukas, Baffert happy for McGaughey

BALTIMORE - Though they will both try to stop Orb’s Triple Crown bid in Saturday’s Preakness, fellow Hall of Fame trainers Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas were more than happy to welcome Shug McGaughey to the fraternity of Kentucky Derby-winning trainers.

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“There was one with his name on it,” said Lukas, a four-time winning Derby trainer. “He’s a world-class trainer with a lot of bloodstock running through that barn. For him to get one is great. It was a very popular win among his colleagues.”

Lukas, who will send out Oxbow and Titletown Five along with Will Take Charge against Orb on Saturday, said he told owners Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps and Stuart Janney III before the race he felt this was their Derby.

“I told Dinny and Stuart Janney before the race the karma with you guys and Shug might be more than we can all overcome,” Lukas said. “I believe there’s a certain amount of karma in the Kentucky Derby. I think the Bob Lewises and William T. Youngs and the Frances Genters win this race. It always seems like it’s good people who get there. I told Dinny, ‘I think this one’s got your name on it.’ And that was right before they saddled.’ ”

Baffert, a three-time Derby-winning trainer who will run Govenor Charlie in the Preakness, said McGaughey should be having the time of his life right now.

“There’s not a better place to be than where Shug is right now,” Baffert said. “When guys like him win it, it really means a lot to him. That’s the only thing that was missing on his résumé. There are some great trainers that didn’t get a chance to win it.”