Gulfstream Park: Honor Code makes long-awaited 2014 debut Wednesday

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ask trainer Shug McGaughey which one single factor was most responsible for Orb’s victory in the 2013 Kentucky Derby, and he’d likely say it was the way everything went perfectly for his horse from the time he arrived at Payson Park last winter right up until Derby Day.

“We never missed a work, never missed a race, never had a single setback with Orb all winter,” McGaughey said.

Unfortunately, such has not been the case for McGaughey in his quest to defend his Derby title this year. McGaughey encountered his first setback when Honor Code missed 10 days of training in January due to some bruising of the ankles. He suffered an even tougher blow Saturday, when Top Billing cracked a cannon bone in his right front leg, taking him off the Derby trail.

McGaughey is hopeful that the road to Churchill Downs will be a smooth one from here on out for Honor Code, who makes his long-awaited 3-year-old debut Wednesday at Gulfstream Park against four rivals in a $75,000 allowance race at 1 1/16 miles.

Honor Code has not started since outgaming Cairo Prince, the likely favorite for the $1 million Florida Derby, in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes on Nov. 30. A son of A.P. Indy owned by the partnership of Lane’s End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm, Honor Code suffered his only defeat in three starts Oct. 5 when beaten a neck by Havana in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Honor Code has worked five times since McGaughey brought him down to Gulfstream from Payson Park to resume training in late January. He went a strong five furlongs in company in 59.18 seconds with jockey Javier Castellano aboard March 2, then came back Sunday with another solid half-mile, going solo, in 47.99.

“There are a couple of horses in this race on Wednesday that are okay, and one of them has a lot of speed, which I’m glad about,” McGaughey said, referring to the undefeated Social Inclusion. “I’d like to have a target for Honor Code to run at. I breezed him sharp on Sunday because I wanted to get his mind on what he’s got to do, and hopefully he’ll break and be laying close, where you really need to be right now to win over this track.”

McGaughey acknowledged that winning is not his ultimate goal Wednesday but added that he believes he’s done enough with Honor Code for him to come out on top in his return.

“We don’t have to win. Obviously, that’s not our main goal, but we’re in the race to win, and it would sure take a lot of pressure off me if he does win,” McGaughey said with a laugh. “We have several options for him coming out of this race, and it would be a nice scenario if he were to win easily, if the race didn’t take a lot out of him, and we could bang another race out of him down here.”

McGaughey said he would prefer to bring Honor Code back in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 29, if possible. Orb used his victory in the 2013 Florida Derby as a final stepping-stone to his triumph five weeks later in the Kentucky Derby.

“It’s probably a longshot, as you know, to get him back in the Florida Derby,” McGaughey said. “But the works don’t seem to be taking much out of him, so we’ll see. If you asked me the great scenario, I’d say I’d be very happy if I had another two more weeks after this race until his next start. But right now, the most likely options, assuming all goes well on Wednesday, for his final Derby prep would either be the Florida Derby or the Wood Memorial the following week.”

Social Inclusion, a very impressive winner of his only start, could give Honor Code all he can handle in his return. The remainder of the field is We’re All Set, Specialnightaction, and Ta Bueno.

Social Inclusion overcame a bit of a slow start to lead at every call en route to a 7 1/2-length victory going six furlongs in a maiden special weight race here Feb. 22. A son of Pioneerof the Nile trained by Manny Azpurua, Social Inclusion earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure for his performance that day, which equals Honor Code’s top number, posted in defeat in the Champagne.

We’re All Set, stakes-placed at 2 at Calder, has chased some top-class opposition in his last three starts, which were won by Top Billing, Constitution, and Coup de Grace, although he remains winless since winning his maiden going a mile at Calder in late September.