Shug shakes off sloppy track demons with Orb, wins first Derby

 In 1989, Shug also saddled the favorite. Easy Goer was supposed to be a sure thing. But he couldn’t catch West coast invader Sunday Silence in the stretch on a muddy track, the first race of what would become a storied rivalry. After Easy Goer’s loss in 1989, McGaughey had chances to send horses to the Derby, but his only runner before Orb had been Saarland in 2002 (10th-place finish). McGaughey said his philosophy is to only take his best horses to the Derby.  Watch a video of the 1989 Derby.

Racing royalty stood in the winners circle after Orb’s win Saturday. The Malibu Moon colt is the product of one of racing’s most storied families.First cousins Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps and Stuart Janney III co-own the colt. The 72-yeae-old Phipps first came around Churchill Downs with the pair’s grandmother, Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps. Her Wheatley Stable campaigned 1957 Derby favorite Bold Ruler, who finished fourth.The 64-year-old Janney saw his parents breed race champion filly Ruffian, then endure her tragic death in a match race against Derby winner Foolish Pleasure in 1975. Trainer Shug McGaughey has been training for Phipps and Janney for nearly 30 years including undefeated champion Personal Ensign.

 Joel Rosario is the hottest jockey in racing after his impressive Derby stretch drive. Rosario didn’t get nervous when Orb fell far back early, and he allowed the colt to relax and save his energy for an incredible final spurt to the finish. “A terrific rider,” trainer Shug McGaughey said. “He’s very patient. He might have been a little more patient than I wanted him to be, but he timed it right.”