Gulfstream Park: Honor Code works again

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Honor Code moved another step closer to his 3-year-old debut after working five furlongs in 59.18 seconds under jockey Javier Castellano on Sunday at Gulfstream. Working in company with Special Agent, Honor Code broke off at the half-mile pole a length behind his stablemate, covered his opening quarter in 23.04, reached the finish line under wraps in 46.59, then continued out into the turn, completing the move at the mile pole before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.24.

“I thought he went good,” trainer Shug McGaughey said. “I was very pleased with him, and Javier seemed to be, too. He did it easy, and surprisingly, it didn’t take much out of him even though we stepped it up quite a bit today. It must be because he’s so athletic. I think we’re on the right track.”

McGaughey also has another talented 3-year-old on his hands in Peter Island, a Tapit homebred owned by Robert Evans who rallied to a 1 1/4-length victory despite breaking slowly then racing wide and a bit greenly when making his debut here Saturday.

“He’s a nice horse,” McGaughey said. “He surprised me he won but didn’t surprise me he ran well in his first start since he had trained well up there at Payson. He ran a little bit green the first time, but he got a pretty good education. I’ll take him back to New York and run him around those big turns up there next.”