OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Shug McGaughey can only hope the victory by Skims in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Sands Point Stakes at Aqueduct is the start of a successful three-week run for the Hall of Fame trainer, who figures to be quite active in stakes both in New York and Kentucky. On Sunday, at Belmont Park, McGaughey worked a bevy of horses pointing to important stakes in the coming weeks. First Captain, third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga on Sept. 3, worked a half-mile in 48.99 seconds and proceeded to gallop out a strong five furlongs in 1:01.13 and six furlongs in 1:14.63. He was scheduled to leave later Sunday on a van for Keeneland, where he is targeting a start in the Grade 2, $350,000 Fayette Stakes on Oct. 29. Sunday’s work comes after First Captain had a very swift move in 59.73 seconds on Oct. 8. :: DRF has you covered for the Belmont at the Big A meet! Shop for PPs, Clocker Reports, Picks, Betting Strategies, and more.   “I think today was really what I was looking for, nothing real fast but enough to get something out of it,” McGaughey said. “He’s shipping to Kentucky today. I’ll work him next Sunday or Monday down there. I was very pleased with the way he went today, steady half with a good gallop out all the way.” McGaughey worked 11 horses over the Belmont Park turf course on Sunday including Pleasant Passage, who is pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Pleasant Passage, the Grade 2 Miss Grillo winner, went a half-mile in 49.30 seconds by herself. “It was her typical good work, she’s always been a good workhorse, I wasn’t surprised she worked well,” McGaughey said. "She’s come along fine.” McGaughey said Pleasant Passage would work either once or twice more before the Breeders’ Cup. “She gets a lot out of what she does,” he said. Battle of Normandy, seventh in the Grade 2 Pilgrim, worked a half-mile in 49.80 seconds in company with Dreams of Tomorrow. McGaughey said Battle of Normandy, who did finish second in the Grade 3 With Anticipation at Saratoga, would be pre-entered in the Juvenile Turf. Of more immediate note, McGaughey worked three horses who are nominated to Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Hill Prince Stakes at Aqueduct. Limited Liability and Celestial City worked a half-mile in 49.59 seconds together over the Belmont turf. Fort Washington worked a sharp half-mile in 48.16 seconds, finishing about a length in front of Dripping Gold. McGaughey said he would likely run two of the three in the Hill Prince with the other heading to the Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 29. McGaughey would like to run Fort Washington over firm ground if possible. “That horse is training really well,” McGaughey said. “He really wants to run a distance of ground.” The Bryan Station is only a mile, whereas the Hill Prince is 1 1/8 miles. Meanwhile, McGaughey said he has not yet decided on a course of action for Skims, who beat Vergara by three-quarters of a length in the Sands Point. McGaughey said if he elects to run her again this year, Skims could start in the Grade 1, $300,000 American Oaks at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. If not, he could just wait until next year. “She’s improving all the time,” McGaughey said. “Physically and in her races, too. Her last two races have been her best two. It’s something to put some thought into.” Skims, a daughter of Frankel owned and bred by Andrew Rosen, earned a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure in the Sands Point. One other horse who could be stakes-bound for McGaughey is Signator, a 2-year-old son of Tapit who won a one-mile maiden race at Aqueduct on Friday by 4 1/2 lengths. His options include the Nashua at Aqueduct on Nov. 6, the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen at Aqueduct on Dec. 3 or perhaps the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs on Nov. 26. “I’ll nominate him to the Nashua and see where we’re going,” McGaughey said. “We could take our time; even farther would be better. He came out of it good. I was expecting him to run well. We’ll see where he takes us.” Signator, a $1.7 million yearling purchase, is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing and Gainesway Stable. On Friday, he ran a mile in 1:37.89 and earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.