Clocker: American Pharoah, Honor Code light up morning

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The rain was gone, but the remnants of nearly three days of precipitation remained at Keeneland on Thursday, with the main track sloppy and sealed when the course opened at 6:15 a.m. and only slightly better after being harrowed during the renovation break.

The wet going altered the plans of many horsemen during training hours Thursday, including those of Bob Baffert, who opted to have AMERICAN PHAROAH spend his first day on the racetrack since his arrival in Kentucky this week galloping over the artificial surface at the training track. And according to Daily Racing Form’s Jay Privman, the Triple Crown champion looked “awesome” galloping a little over 1 1/4 miles shortly before 8:30 a.m.

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Several of American Pharoah’s chief rivals in the Classic trained over the wet main track, including HONOR CODE, who looked fabulous Thursday. The multiple Grade 1 winner began to rev it up after jogging around to the backstretch, then open-galloped a mile from the five-furlong pole in 1:56.99, moving powerfully down the stretch through a series of 13-and-change eighths, neck bowed, his long stride clearly on display even through the darkness.

TONALIST trained a short while earlier, visiting the paddock before coming out for a typically strong move over the sloppy surface. FROSTED also had a good morning as did EFFINEX, both galloping after the break. GLENEAGLES made his first local appearance since escaping quarantine and was on his toes jogging the wrong way past the grandstand before reversing direction and galloping willingly by the finish line a second time.

Among the others who made a favorable impression over the main track Thursday were Juvenile Fillies rivals NICKNAME and TAP TO IT, who was a handful while skipping and playing over the wet surface. The imposing RED VINE, who trains in draw reins, and ISOTHERM both continue to catch the eye as well since arriving here from New York earlier in the week.

The turf course was on the soft side Thursday but did attract a handful of Europeans once it opened at 9:30 a.m., including GOLDEN HORN. He wasted little time breaking into a high cruising speed beginning at the five-eighths pole. The Arc winner, Golden Horn didn’t seem to have any trouble handling the softer course, putting his long and seemingly effortless stride on display while leading a trio of Euro invaders, including stablemate CYMRIC and TIME TEST, through a very energetic gallop once around the 7 1/2-furlong course.

Among the American horses to test the turf shortly thereafter was TOURIST, one of the leading contenders in the Mile.

The following horses are among those who made a favorable impression while training here the past couple of weeks for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup program.

SPRINT

LIMOUSINE LIBERAL has turned in a series of sharp works over his home track, the best of which came Oct. 16, when he ran past a Todd Pletcher team that included Grade 1 winner Curalina at the half-mile pole. He opened up three lengths under a hold into the stretch, then continued to increase his advantage with a 23.20-second final quarter-mile split, going easily, before galloping out very well into the turn.

MILE

MSHAWISH might have his hands full with some of the Europeans in this field but certainly is coming up to the race in peak form after his eye-catching 48.19-second half-mile Oct. 23. He flew through the stretch to complete a final quarter in 22.12 before galloping out with terrific energy around the turn, pulling up six furlongs in 1:14.88.

JUVENILE

GREENPOINTCRUSADER really picked up the pace after a maintenance-type breeze Oct. 19, coming back four days later to zip a half-mile in 46.48 with jockey Joe Bravo aboard. He finished with something left before galloping out a sharp five furlongs in 59.37.

The complete Clocker Report for Friday and Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup programs, plus bonus coverage of both undercards, can be purchased here.