In a battle worthy of a big stage, Cugino (Twirling Candy–Adorable Miss, by Kitten's Joy) threw down the gauntlet in the lane and fortune smiled on him as he claimed the GII Red Smith Stakes by the slimmest of noses.
Quite consistent in his career, Cugino showed up when they called on him, but kept coming just a bit short of claiming that elusive first graded win. He lost a desperately close photo in the GIII Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland in Spring of 2024 when MGSW Neat (Constitution) got the better of the bobs on the line. The son of Twirling Candy later came a length short of success in the GIII Hill Prince Stakes last November. He started this year June 15 against local optional claimers at this venue, and won it well before moving on to try his luck in the GI Fourstardave Handicap. He managed sixth when coming from well off the pace, and returned to winning ways last out Sept. 1 at Monmouth Park in the Red Bank Stakes.
As the even-money choice here, Cugino tracked Common Defense (Karakontie {Jpn}) from the start and remained as a tracker through the far turn. Shaken loose by the hot-riding Flavien Prat, who would end his day with a record seven wins on the card, the rivals locked horns for the stretch battle with nothing between them. Refusing to yield despite being carried out, Cugino nailed the final jump to beat Common Defense by a nose. Desvio (Yoshida {Jpn}) improved his early position to claim third. The final running time was 2:17.13.
“Very game [Cugino],” said trainer Shug McGaughey. “I'm very pleased with how hard he tried. That was the first time we got to stretch him out that far. Whether he wants to run this far or not, I don't know, but he did it today. He is just a nice horse.”
“I thought he'd be in front easier. I told [Flavien] Prat, 'if no one else wants the lead, go, if he breaks good.' I was surprised that other horse was up there.”
“Tough beat–it happens,” said jockey Christopher Elliot aboard the runner-up. “My saddle slipped forward, which didn't help, and my horse was wanting to lean and lug out a little bit, but he ran a good race. He fought back and was trying really hard.”
McGaughey secured his record-extending sixth win in the Red Smith via Cugino's effort, and the conditioner admits that, while it's never explicitly in the plans to run anyone in the race, it's nice when things work out. “I've had some grass horses ready to go this time of year. We weren't forcing anyone to this race, but it was where it was on the calendar. I'm glad it was.”
Setting his own record as well was Prat, who posted a single-card record at NYRA with seven wins from 10 starters. He never finished out of the exacta on any of his mounts on the 11-race card. He also became just the seventh jockey to win six consecutive races, coming within one of Ramon Dominguez's record of seven in a row set over two cards from Dec. 14 to Dec. 15 in 2011.
Flavien Prat gets his SIXTH win on the card in the Grade 2 Red Smith Stakes with CUGINO for trainer Shug McGaughey. pic.twitter.com/1XxkfayCBH
— NYRA (🌳) (@TheNYRA) November 2, 2025
Pedigree Notes:
The third black-type runner from the first three to the races for Adorable Miss, Cugino is a half-brother to GSW Battle of Normandy (City of Light) and SP Veronica Greene (Tapit). The lattermost sister produced a 2025 colt by Justify this year. The trio has a placed 3-year-old half-brother named Long Acting (War of Will) as well as a juvenile half-brother Essential Charm (Essential Quality). The mare's last registered offspring is a 2025 colt by Flightline.
Sunday, Belmont at the Big A
RED SMITH S.-GII, $242,500, Belmont The Big A, 11-2, 3yo/up, 1 3/8mT, 2:17.13, fm.
1–CUGINO, 124, c, 4, by Twirling Candy
1st Dam: Adorable Miss (MSW, $162,590), by Kitten's Joy
2nd Dam: Money Huntress, by Mineshaft
3rd Dam: Favorite Funtime, by Seeking the Gold
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($225,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP).
O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig LLC; B-Gage
Hill Stables, LLC & W. S. Farish (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey
III; J-Flavien Prat. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 13-6-4-0,
$761,410. *1/2 to Battle of Normandy (City of Light), GSW,
$643,195; 1/2 to Veronica Greene (Tapit), SP, $195,500.
Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Common Defense, 122, c, 4, Karakontie (Jpn)–Allusion, by
Street Cry (Ire). ($9,000 RNA Wlg '21 KEENOV). O-David A.
Bernsen LLC, Tony Holmes, Michael Holmes, Leo Dooley,
and Sarah Dooley; B-Tony Holmes, Norevale Farm & Union
Dale (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $50,000.
3–Desvio, 126, g, 4, Yoshida (Jpn)–Fitzrovia, by Uncle Mo.
($60,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $70,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT). O-Bonnie
Rye Stable and Stonelea Stable; B-Eliza St George & Lee
Mauberret (KY); T-Madison F. Meyers. $30,000.
Margins: NO, 2, 2HF. Odds: 1.18, 4.92, 10.37.
Also Ran: Fleetfoot (Ire), Limited Liability. Scratched: Dancin in Da'nile.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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