Honor Code has impressive drill toward Whitney

ELMONT, N.Y. – It took a little prodding from the outrider to get Honor Code to begin his half-mile work early Sunday morning at Belmont Park, but it took very little prodding from his rider, once under way, for Honor Code to turn in an extremely impressive drill as he continues to prepare for the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga on Aug. 8.

Honor Code, breezing for the third time since his decisive 3 3/4-length victory over Tonalist in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap five weeks earlier, jogged around to the six-furlong pole accompanied by a stable pony. He struck out on his own at that point, but before completing another eighth of a mile, Honor Code became a little reluctant to proceed any farther.

But once given some encouragement from the outrider, Honor Code made his way to the half-mile marker, broke off at a relaxed pace, and proceeded to breeze four furlongs in 47.13 seconds, his final quarter in 23.22, while just nudged lightly near the wire. He then galloped out on his own with great energy, completing five panels in 59.38 before pulling up six furlongs on the clubhouse turn in 1:13.19.

“It was a little faster than I wanted, but it was good,” said McGaughey. “He finished strong and came back fine.”

McGaughey said Honor Code has had a tendency to dig his heels in before a work in the past.

“He’s done that before. It doesn’t bother me,” said McGaughey. “Usually it happens by the three-quarter pole, which is why he went with the pony until he got by there. Then he did it at the next pole. I think he’s just getting too smart.”

McGaughey said Honor Code would likely have one more work at Belmont before shipping to Saratoga next Sunday.

McGaughey also had a busy morning on the turf, working four horses on the grass, including La Madrina and Mr. Speaker.

La Madrina was easily the better of a team with Gold Shield, cruising four furlongs around the dogs in 49.79 while finishing well in hand before edging well clear on the gallop out.

“I thought she was very good,” said McGaughey. “She hasn’t run on the turf yet, but she’s going to up there [at Saratoga]. Mr. Speaker was fine as well. I wanted him to finish, and that’s exactly what he did.”

Mr. Speaker is entered Wednesday on the grass against allowance competition.

“His two races so far this year, he hasn’t finished, so win, lose, or draw, I just want to see him come running,” said McGaughey. “A mile and one-sixteenth over this turf course is probably not his bag but with what he’s in against, if he runs his race, he should be pretty competitive.”

Honor Code will likely be joined in the Whitney by Wicked Strong, who finished second despite a tardy beginning while making his turf debut Saturday in the Forbidden Apple.

“It was good. I was glad he was second,” said trainer Jimmy Jerkens. “I don’t think he ate the turf up, but he was classy enough to get a check. I don’t know why he broke slow again. He’s broken slow again in every start this year. I wish he’d at least break with the field. But the race pretty much accomplished what we wanted, to get his head back in the game. So we’ll probably look to the Whitney.”

Jerkens said it’s also likely V. E. Day would run in the Whitney with Effinex still considered a possibility for the race at this time.