Reeve McGaughey scores his first training win

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Reeve McGaughey, the 30-year-old son of Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, won his first race as a trainer Thursday at Oaklawn Park.

His father also celebrated his first training win at Oaklawn, back on March 29, 1978, according to records from Daily Racing Form.

“The first horse I ran in my name won at Oaklawn,” Shug McGaughey said when asked Friday. “I like Oaklawn – a lot of good memories.”

Reeve McGaughey won the card’s seventh race, a first-level allowance route, with Franknjymme ($7.20).

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“I’m very proud of him,” Shug McGaughey said. “He’s worked hard. It’s kind of been a tough winter. He got that monkey off his back. I think the future is in front of him.”

Reeve McGaughey also was pleased for the win. It came with his eighth starter in a career launched this meet at Oaklawn.

“It’s a little bit of a relief,” Reeve McGaughey said Friday. “But we were looking forward to running him. He’d been training well. When the race came out, it looked like he had a good shot. I’m glad it worked out.”

Franknjymme races for Charles LoPresti, who also bred the son of Successful Appeal. The horse was making his second start for Reeve McGaughey and coming off a runner-up finish at the same level Feb. 8 at Oaklawn. LoPresti, who trained two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan, is the uncle of Reeve McGaughey.

Reeve McGaughey said Franknjymme could possibly make one more start this meet at Oaklawn. Following the close of the season, he said he plans to base his 10-horse stable in Kentucky.

McGaughey said he received a congratulatory call from his dad shortly after the win Thursday.