After five straight victories over fellow 3-year-olds, Coronado's Quest may challenge Skip Away and the country's other leading older horses in his next race.

Shug McGaughey, who trains Coronado's Quest, said yesterday from his barn at Saratoga that he's leaning toward running Stuart S. Janney III's colt in the Woodward Stakes on Sept. 19 at Belmont Park.

Aiming for the Woodward are Carolyn Hine's Skip Away, the No. 1-ranked horse in North America; Free House, the No. 2-ranked horse; Gentlemen, who had been ranked No. 2; and possibly Touch Gold.

If they run, especially if Coronado's Quest joins them, the $500,000 Woodward could be the race of the year, probably even better than the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 7 at Churchill Downs. Free House and Gentlemen are not likely to race in the Breeders' Cup.

"I think it's time to take a step up," McGaughey said.

Pub Date: 9/03/98