West Point runners Integration, Vahva and Cugino will all be presented with their biggest objectives to date on Saturday in major stakes on the Kentucky Derby card at Churchill Downs.
Integration goes for a $1-million prize and Grade 1 prestige in the Old Forester Turf Classic, looking for firm turf after he ran third while not thriving over a soft grass course in last month’s Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland.
Shug McGaughey trains Integration, a 4-year-old multiple Graded stakes winner who will have Tyler Gaffalione in the irons from the rail post.
Vahva won on Oaks Day last year at Churchill and is 3-to-1 on the morning line for the $1-million Derby City Distaff (G1) for filly and mare sprinters. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride again after she returned from nearly six months off with a fast-finishing second by a half-length in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland. Cherie DeVaux trains the beautiful chestnut daughter of Gun Runner.
Cugino had an extremely tough beat at Keeneland, caught at the wire at the tail end of a huge performance to nearly overcome a wicked trip in the Grade 2 Transylvania Stakes. He adds blinkers for the Hall of Fame team of jockey Javier Castellano and trainer Shug McGaughey in the $600,000 American Turf Stakes (G2T).
