Kathleen O. on the Comeback Trail

Kathleen O.  is on the comeback trail, and the 3-year-old daughter of  Upstart   might find her way to Saratoga Race Course before the summer is over. Not to run, however.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said Kathleen O., who hasn't raced since finishing fifth in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), has resumed training at Churchill Downs.

"She is doing good," McGaughey said outside his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track. "She had some time off; we just wanted to give her a break. There was nothing wrong with her."

If Kathleen O. does come north, she will train here, not race. McGaughey said the long-range goal for her could be the Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack in late fall.

Kathleen O is owned by 84-year-old Pat Kearney's Winngate Stable.

A golf buddy of McGaughey for 20 years, Kearney asked his friend how he could get involved in racing. And the story began in 2021. Two horses were bought: the first was Kathleen O., named for Kearney's wife. The second was a colt named Cloudy, a son of Noble Mission .

Kathleen O. won her first four starts before the Kentucky Oaks. After two dreary efforts as a 2-year-old at Churchill Downs, McGaughey stopped on Cloudy. He came back June 20 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and won a maiden special weight event going a mile on the turf, setting a track record of 1:33.19.

"He won way off and set a track record," McGaughey said. "Not a course record. A track record. He has two horses and they've made eight starts and won five races. That ain't bad!"