Gulfstream Park: Honor Code to resume working on Wednesday

The highly regarded 3-year-old Honor Code, who recently missed some training time with a minor injury, is scheduled to work on Wednesday morning at Gulfstream Park as he begins anew his preparation for his 2014 debut, trainer Shug McGaughey said Tuesday afternoon.

Honor Code was taken to Gulfstream Park after initially training this winter at the Payson Park training center in south Florida; McGaughey keeps horses at both locales. The setback, which McGaughey said was due to bruising in his hind ankles, caused McGaughey to postpone Honor Code's intended debut, next week's Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream.

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"So far, so good," McGaughey said of how Honor Code has progressed since his arrival at Gulfstream.

McGaughey had said he hoped to make the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 1, but said Tuesday he thinks the leading contender for Honor Code's first start this year, assuming there are no further setbacks, is the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on March 15.

"I don't think I have enough time to get him ready for the Gotham," McGaughey said.

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Honor Code won twice in three starts last year, including the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 30. He also was second in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park.

Honor Code has not worked since Jan. 18, when he was timed going three furlongs in 38.10 seconds at Payson Park. He had worked just once previously at Payson, on Dec. 31, when he went three furlongs in 39 seconds. Those are his only two recorded works since the Remsen.