Code West debuts for new trainer with Governor's Cup win

Code West made his first start for owner Bryan Hawk a winning one when he rode the rail to a half-length score over Right to Vote in Saturday night’s $175,000 Governor’s Cup at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to For Greater Glory.

The Governor’s Cup was one of two stakes on the card, with Ivan Fallunovalot winning his fourth straight race in the $75,000 David M. Vance. The stakes were the first of the new meet at Remington.

Code West ($7.20), a recent private purchase, settled in third along the rail in the Governor’s Cup as Right to Vote was clear through fractions of 23.70 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.55 for the half-mile and 1:11.34 for six furlongs. Code West rallied up the fence in the stretch and edged past the pacesetter while covering 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:49.82.

“I was stuck on the inside. He was comfortable there,” said Cliff Berry, who was aboard Code West for trainer Boyd Caster. “For some reason, the horse on the lead stayed out. I had a dream trip.”

Hawk purchased Code West following his fifth-place finish July 6 in the Grade 3 Salvatore Mile at Monmouth Park. The horse was winning for the first time since taking the 2013 edition of the Grade 3 Matt Winn last June at Churchill Downs.

Code West, a ridgling by Lemon Drop Kid, has now won 4 of 15 starts. He earned $105,000 for his win in the Governor’s Cup to push his career bankroll to $414,176. Code West was bred in Virginia by Edward P. Evans.

Sunbean, the favorite in the Governor’s Cup, was hung wide in the first turn and finished fifth Saturday.

In the Vance, Ivan Fallunovalot ($18) rallied past the pacesetter Sum of the Parts in the stretch to continue a streak that started in a $25,000 claiming race from which he was haltered in March at Oaklawn. Ivan Fallunovalot won by three-quarters of a length over the runner-up Ghost Is Clear. Lindey Wade rode the winner for Lewis Matthews Jr. and trainer Tom Howard.