Dunbar Road might train up to Alabama; Code of Honor works

ELMONT, N.Y. – With the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 20 scheduled just three weeks after the Mother Goose, trainer Chad Brown said Sunday that Dunbar Road may skip the CCA Oaks and train up to the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga on Aug. 17.

Dunbar Road won Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Mother Goose by 2 1/2 lengths. She ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.54 and earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure.

“We have seven weeks to the Alabama and that’s probably what we’re going to do,” Brown said. “I’ll nominate her [to the CCA Oaks] and we’ll see how she does in her first little piece of work back. Right now, I’d say the more likely scenario is we train her up to the Alabama.”

Brown said if he keeps Dunbar Road out of the CCA Oaks it has nothing to do with the fact he is pointing the undefeated Grade 1 Acorn winner Guarana to that race.

“If that other filly wasn’t even in the picture you’d have to twist my arm to run her back in three weeks with the Alabama sitting there,” Brown said.

Code of Honor works for Dwyer

Code of Honor, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, worked a half-mile in 49.79 seconds Monday morning over Belmont Park’s main track, his final breeze before his return to the races in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,00 Dwyer Stakes.

Under exercise rider Alexus Peaden, Code of Honor went his first quarter in 25.75 seconds and his final quarter in 24.05. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.12.

“All of his works since we started working him after the Derby have been good,” trainer Shug McGaughey said.

A field of six is expected for the Dwyer, including Final Jeopardy, Rowayton, Majid, Mihos, and Whiskey Echo.