Signator showed grit and an affinity for the grass in rallying through traffic to get up by a head at Tampa Bay Downs on Sunday in his first start of the year.

The 5-year-old gray was racing on the turf for the first time. A son of Tapit, Signator notched his 4th career win for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and racing partners West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, Gainesway Stable, Phipps Stable, Ken Langone, Edward Hudson Jr., Lynne Hudson and Lane’s End Racing.

Tampa’s leading jockey Samuel Marin deftly guided Signator along the inside in notching his second win of the week for the combination of McGaughey, West Point and Woodford Racing.

Shug said, “I was really worried when he got shuffled back but the kid did a good job not panicking or snatching him up. The announcer didn’t pick him up till late but I saw him and happy he got through there. He had trained like he liked the turf last summer in Saratoga and this was an excellent race to get him going again and I think he needed the race. I’m real pleased he finished the way he did because he wouldn’t always do that on the dirt.”

Signator was acquired at the OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training.

West Point also had an exciting new winner on Thursday night when Mila Rose delivered a sparkling debut performance at Turfway Park, uncorking a long rally from off the pace and drawing off to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

Joe Ramos piloted Mila Rose for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. West Point campaigns the Vekoma filly with Michael Lyden and Michael Olszewski. Mila Rose came to the group through the 2024 OBS March sale.

Steve Asmussen and West Point collected a maiden win on Saturday at Oaklawn Park with Pride’s Prince, who broke through in his second start of the year. Steve’s son, Keith Asmussen, rode Pride’s Prince in front-running fashion, pouring it on to win by a length and three-quarters.

A triumphant Mila Rose at Turfway: