Honor Code nears 4-year-old debut

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Shug McGaughey said he’s still considering the one-mile Gulfstream Park Handicap on March 7 at Gulfstream Park for Honor Code’s much-anticipated 4-year-old debut. Honor Code has not started since posting an eye-catching optional-claiming win going 6 1/2 furlongs at Aqueduct on Nov. 22. Honor Code has had two easy, three-furlong breezes at Payson Park since arriving in south Florida in early December.

“We’ll breeze him again this weekend,” said McGaughey. “I backed off him a little because I knew I wasn’t going to run him for a while. If I want to run him in the [Gulfstream Park Handicap], he’ll be ready.”

McGaughey also advised that Top Billing is getting close to making his first start since a third-place finish in the 2014 Fountain of Youth. Top Billing has had four works at Payson, the latest a half-mile in 50.80 seconds on Jan. 6.

“I missed a breeze this weekend, the reason being I want to work him on the grass next Saturday,” said McGaughey. “For no particular reason, I just want to see what he does out there. He’s getting ready to run. I’m waiting for the next [condition] book to come out and then we’ll see.”

h in the Maryland Sprint last spring. He also finished second behind Palace in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Alfred Vanderbilt.