Gulfstream Park: Honor Code targeting Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Honor Code, one of the leading contenders for the 140th Kentucky Derby, had his first breeze since he missed about a week of training when going three furlongs on a warm Wednesday morning at Gulfstream Park.

As Honor Code was cooling out, trainer Shug McGaughey confirmed that the son of A.P. Indy most likely will make the first start of his 3-year-old season in the March 15 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, “mostly because of the timing. That way, there’s seven weeks until the [May 3] Derby, and we can get a second prep in there somewhere.”

With Kevin Willey aboard, Honor Code was caught by Daily Racing Form going in 35.67 seconds over a track that was playing extremely fast. He then galloped out in fractions of 47.78, 1:01.49, and 1:15.53.

“I thought he went absolutely great,” Willey said.

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

McGaughey also said he was happy with the workout, which was the first for Honor Code since Jan. 18 at Payson Park and his third since he became a major Derby threat by winning the Nov. 30 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct. In Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager last weekend, Honor Code closed at 12-1, the lowest odds of the 23 separately listed wagering interests.

McGaughey, who won his first Derby last year with Orb, initially had wanted to run Honor Code here in the Feb. 22 Fountain of Youth Stakes, but the missed training time forced him to reconsider his options. McGaughey said Honor Code, owned by Lane’s End Farm and Dell Ridge Farm, “stressed his back ankles a little” during training at Payson, after which he had the horse moved to Gulfstream.

“We missed between a week and 10 days with him, I think,” McGaughey said. “He’s fine now. I liked how he went this morning.”

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]

In other 3-year-old news of note, Havana had his third breeze since returning to training when going a half-mile in 50.40 seconds Monday at Palm Meadows.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said last week he is happy with how Havana, winner of the Champagne Stakes and the runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, is progressing toward his 2014 debut in the March 1 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream.