McGaughey Hoping Patience Pays Off Again In Comely
By: Jenny Kellner

OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Apr. 16, 2003) - In his years of training, Shug McGaughey has learned the value of patience. That virtue paid off with such champions as Vanlandingham, Easy Goer, Personal Ensign, Rhythm, Inside Information, Queena, Heavenly Prize, and last year, Storm Flag Flying.

Four months after she capped a perfect four-for-four season with her dramatic victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), the regally-bred daughter of Storm Cat-My Flag returned to training. Her works gave every indication she was back and better than ever. McGaughey elected to take his time, however, and on Friday, the wait will hopefully pay off when Storm Flag Flying makes her 3-year-old debut in the $100,000 Comely (GIII) at Aqueduct.

"I hope we haven't gotten to the bottom of her yet," said McGaughey, who will give a leg up to John Velazquez in the one-mile race. "I'm looking forward to getting her over there."

In the Comely, Storm Flag Flying will face four others, including Cyber Secret, to be ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan; Xtra Heart, under Norberto Arroyo Jr; Glorious Jenna, with Mike Luzzi aboard; Bonay, ridden by Eibar Coa, and Belong to Sea, Richard Migliore up.

Although Storm Flag Flying is the early 1-5 favorite, not everyone is running for second money. Richard Dutrow, Jr., who will saddle multiple stakes winner Cyber Secret, is hoping to pull off the big upset.

"I'm not going into this hoping we're second best," said Dutrow, who said he will not run Cyber Secret if the track comes up wet. "I'll be satisfied with a win, or if our filly runs huge and just gets beat."

Cyber Secret, claimed by Dutrow at Saratoga last August, won the Busanda over the winter and then took the Cicada (GIII) over Roar Emotion in her most recent start.

"I was hoping we could win a couple of races with her and at least get the money we claimed her for back," said Dutrow. "She's been a real nice surprise. She's really impressed me."

It was Storm Flag Flying's race in the Juvenile Fillies that was one of most impressive efforts of 2002, however. After taking the Frizette and the Matron, both Grade I races, she went into the Juvenile Fillies as the odds-on favorite. In the final furlong, she was overtaken by the West Coast filly Composure and appeared beaten. However, she came charging back and went on to win by a half-length.

"I saw her pin her ears and she went back to running when that filly got even with her," recalled McGaughey, who also sent out her grand dam, Personal Ensign, to win the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) and her dam, My Flag, to win the 1995 Juvenile Fillies (GI). "I hadn't given up hope."

As for her 2003 campaign, McGaughey has the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (GI) under consideration, as well as the New York series which begins with the June 28 Mother Goose (GI), and continues with Belmont's Coaching Club American Oaks (GI) on July 19 and concludes with the Alabama (GI) at Saratoga on August 16.

"The Oaks is a possibility," he said. "Then, we'll point to the races in New York over the summer."

Jenny Kellner is one of the most respected, multi-faceted journalists in New York. She served as the New York Islanders beat writer for the New York Times and has covered Thoroughbred horse racing and professional football for several major publications in the Big Apple and beyond. She is a frequent contributor to a myriad of Thoroughbred racing trade publications and has covered numerous Kentucky Derbys and Breeders' Cups.

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