New York - There aren't many trainers who would stand in the winner's circle at Aqueduct after the Gotham Stakes (GIII) and hedge about the Kentucky Derby. But then, there aren't many trainers like Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey.

McGaughey was delighted with the performance of Survivalist, who came from behind to take the $150,000 Gotham over 6-5 favorite Galloping Grocer for his first victory in three starts this year. But it's a long way from a one-turn, one mile race at Aqueduct to the fanfare of the May 7 Derby, as McGaughey well knows.

"I want to take the right horse to the Derby," said McGaughey, who is 0-6 in four trips to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, finishing 10th with Saarland in the 2002 Run for the Roses in his last foray. "I don't want to go just for the sake of being in the Derby. I'm very pleased with the way this horse ran, but he's going to have to prove it to me."

Survivalist, a compact dark bay son of Danzig out of the Mr. Prospector mare Miner's Game, proved a lot in the Gotham. Eighth in the field of nine halfway through the race, he rallied five wide under Richard Migliore and survived both a wild stretch run and a steward's inquiry to prevail by three-quarters of a length. His time for the mile was 1:35.61. Pavo, whose saddle slipped and caused jockey Alan Garcia to lose his irons, was a neck in front of Galloping Grocer at the wire, but was disqualified to fourth because Garcia accidentally hit Naughty New Yorker in the face with his whip in the stretch. A claim of foul by Naughty New Yorker's jockey, Jean-Luc Samyn, against the winner - whose black-and-red Phipps silks are similar that those borne by Pavo - was dismissed.

"When he got to the outside with the white face, I knew he was going to finish," said McGaughey, who won two other races on Saturday's card. "I don't know how far he's going to go, but it's a good position to be in. I would think the Wood Memorial (April 9) is a good possibility."

Survivalist, who returned $8.90, $4, and $2.90, earned $90,000 to boost his career earnings to $131,820. In winning his first stakes start, he extended his record to two victories and two seconds in five races, including a second-place finish to Tampa Bay Derby winner Sun King in his last start at Gulfstream Park.

"He caught a buzz saw in Sun King that day," said McGaughey. "I thought he ran well against Sun King (finishing 5 ¾ lengths back in a one mile allowance), that's what prompted me to come here. I came up here with a little confidence. After that last race I thought I'd try something a little different with him. I didn't want to run a mile and an eighth with him in Florida."

The connections of Galloping Grocer, who returned $3.40 and $2.30 to place, and Naughty New Yorker, who paid $2.60 to show, also indicated they would be headed to the mile-and-an-eighth Wood.

"He ran great," said Dominick Schettino, trainer of the beaten favorite, who is 0-2 this year. "There is nothing to be sorry about."

Added jockey Mike Luzzi: "This should set him up good for the Wood - he'll be further back because today, he moved before I wanted him to."

Pat Kelly, trainer of Naughty New Yorker, also said the Wood would be next.

"That was our plan going into the Gotham," he said. "I thought the one turn mile would favor some of the other horses."

As for Pavo, whose brave finish had everyone talking, trainer Jennifer Pedersen was heartsick.

"He gave me everything he had, which is why I am so upset," she said pf Pavo, who was placed fourth ahead of of Byanosejoe, Lieutenant Danz, Mr. Congeniality, Maddy's Lion, and Distinctive Trick. "I'm happy he ran big. This horse couldn't have been coming into the race any better. When you lose a race like that, it breaks your heart."

McGaughey, whose three winners eclipsed his record in Florida (0-4-3 from 19 starts), was to return to Florida Sunday morning but said Survivalist would remain in New York.

"I'll talk to Mr. (Ogden Mills) Phipps when the time comes," said McGaughey, who won the 1989 Gotham with Derby favorite Easy Goer and dead-heated with Devil His Due with Lure in the 1992 edition. "I liked they way he ran. I was satisified with that."

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