A multiple stakes winner in 2024 as a 3-year-old, Cugino opened his 4-year-old campaign in sharp fashion Thursday, pouncing in the stretch at Aqueduct to win by a comfortable length in a third-level allowance.

Eclipse champion Irad Ortiz Jr. piloted Cugino for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

Shug said, “It was a big race for him and I think he’ll move forward off of this.”

Irad said, “He’s basically push-button. Anytime I asked him for something he was right there for me. I never really asked him to run. There was plenty more in the tank and he galloped out great. This is a very, very nice horse.”

Best in the Audubon Stakes at Churchill and Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream last season, Cugino has won four times and finished second four times in 10 career starts, earning $559,410. West Point and Jimmy Kahig LLC acquired him at the Keeneland September yearling sale.

Cugino joined Pony Express (Santa Anita on June 15) and Final Boss (Santa Anita on June 8) as victorious 4-year-olds recently for West Point, building back up for stakes competition after winter vacations.