Gulfstream Park: Honor Code trains for Rebel

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Honor Code breezed an easy half-mile in 49.55 seconds at Gulfstream on Wednesday. The work was the second for Honor Code since he shipped here from Payson Park after missing some training time due to bruised ankles earlier this winter.

Honor Code was the lowest price of any single entrant in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2, despite having not started since defeating Cairo Prince by a nose in the Grade 2 Remsen on Nov. 30. Trainer Shug McGaughey has the Rebel at Oaklwan Park on March 15 penciled in as the most likely option for Honor Code’s 3-year-old debut.

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

Honor Code posted splits of 12.29 and 24.29 for the opening quarter of his Wednesday work, had to alter course slightly around another horse who was galloping a bit too close to the rail inside the eighth pole, and just cruised to the wire before galloping out five-eighths in 1:02.77. He did wash out a bit both prior to and during the work.

“I thought he did fine,” McGaughey said. “I asked him to go in 49 or 50. He galloped out fine. When he worked last week, the track was lightning fast. He always gets a bit warm. That doesn’t worry me.”

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