Code of Honor convinces McGaughey he's ready for Met Mile

ELMONT, N.Y. – Code of Honor has been doing everything he can to convince trainer Shug McGaughey that he’ll be ready to run in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on July 4. After Code of Honor put in a sharp five-furlong workout Wednesday morning at Belmont Park, McGaughey said he was convinced.

Code of Honor on Wednesday morning worked five furlongs in 1:00.50, getting his last quarter in 23.31 seconds, according to New York Racing Association clockers. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.97 under exercise rider Lexi Peaden. Afterward, McGaughey confirmed Code of Honor would run in the $500,000 Met Mile, four weeks after he won the Grade 3 Westchester off a seven-month layoff.

McGaughey had been considering just waiting for the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 1 at Saratoga.

“He kept touting me and touting me, so I said I’Il work him and see what happens,” McGaughey said. “He did it the right way, 37, 1:00-and-change, up in 1:12-and-four with the exercise girl on. If he stubbed his toe today or something I wouldn’t have” run.

For most of his career, Code of Honor has run his best races with plenty of time between starts. McGaughey said the colt has recovered from his efforts better going back to last summer after he won the Grade 3 Dwyer by 3 1/4 lengths.

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“He started maturing into himself after the Dwyer and started to just keep coming,” McGaughey said. “Then we were able to give him plenty of time off. He got more time off because of coronavirus.”

The Met Mile field is shaping up to be Code of Honor, Endorsed, Hog Creek Hustle, McKinzie, Mr Freeze, Network Effect, Vekoma, and Warrior’s Charge. Everfast and Mr. Money are possible.

Tiz the Law back on track

Tiz the Law, the Belmont Stakes winner, returned to the track Wednesday morning, jogging once around Belmont’s main track accompanied by trainer Barclay Tagg aboard a stable pony.

“He had plenty of energy,” Tagg said. “He was like a pet lion in a canary cage.”

Tagg said Tiz the Law would likely gallop for about a week before returning to the work tab. He is targeting the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 8 at Saratoga.