Big Day for McGaughey

Before trainer Shug McGaughey tries to win the $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Handicap today at Saratoga, he has a ceremony to attend.

McGaughey, who has trained such greats as Personal Ensign and Easy Goer, is among three people and three horses who will be inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame this morning in Saratoga Springs.

Joining McGaughey as inductees are jockeys Kent Desormeaux and Jimmy Winkfield and thoroughbreds Skip Away, Flawlessly and Bowl Of Flowers.

If Good Reward is going to provide his trainer with a win in the Grade II later in the day, the 3-year-old son of Storm Cat out of Heavenly Prize, a stakes-winning mare McGaughey also conditioned, is going to have to turn the tables on Second Performance.

In their last get-together June 27 at Belmont Park, Second Performance beat Good Reward by 2 1/4 lengths in the Mac Diarmida.

The one to beat in the Hall of Fame, which goes at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, is Artie Schiller. The 3-year-old El Prado colt has won five of seven on the turf for trainer Jimmy Jerkens and was second in his two defeats. This will be his first appearance on the Saratoga grass.

Race of the day: Spinelessjellyfish, who has earned more than $889,000, will try to end a lengthy losing streak in today’s third at Del Mar. The 8-year-old Skywalker horse, trained by Jenine Sahadi for Cardiff Stud Farm, will face six others in the $80,000 claimer at a mile on the turf. The race is the first leg of a pick six with a carry-over of $255,815.

One for the road: Kalookan Lady, who won by 12 lengths in her debut at Hollywood Park on Nov. 20, surfaces for a $75,000 claiming price in her first start for owner Michael Gill and trainer Mark Shuman in today’s fifth at Saratoga. Ray Ganpath will ride the daughter of Olympio in the seven-furlong contest against six other 3-year-old fillies.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Courtney’s Castle and Fierceinterrogator in the fourth, Dominated Day in the fifth, and Dancing Event and Best In The Storm in the sixth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 2/39. Money: Previous day/meet total: $7.60/$216.80. Total money bet: $292.