Code of Honor's strong gallop-out following work a positive sign

ELMONT, N.Y. – One of the key questions surrounding Code of Honor and his chances in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is how well he bounces back off what was a hard race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he was beaten a nose by Vino Rosso, but was elevated to first following the disqualification of Vino Rosso for interference.

Saturday, Code of Honor showed that he has rebounded quickly from the Jockey Club as he worked a half-mile in 50.13 seconds over the Belmont Park main track. While the final time may not impress, it was what he did after the wire under exercise rider Lexi Peaden that caught the eye. Code of Honor, galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.81, six furlongs in 1:15.06 and pulled up seven furlongs in 1:29.74.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2019: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, and more

“I just told her let him finish up good past the wire, gallop out good,” trainer Shug McGaughey said.

Code of Honor, a little on the slight side, won the Grade 3 Dwyer off a nine-week layoff and the Grade 1 Travers off a seven-week layoff. He came back in five weeks to run a winning race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and will be coming back in five weeks again in the Breeders’ Cup.

“He really came out of this one good,” McGaughey said. “The last two have been kind of surprising how well he came out of them. Racing and training have helped him.”

McGaughey plans a serious five-furlong workout next weekend, a blowout the following weekend, and Code of Honor is scheduled to ship to California on Oct. 28.

McGaughey figures McKinzie will be the favorite in the Classic and Code of Honor and Vino Rosso would “fight it out” for second choice.