Honor Code works eventful five furlongs toward Kelso

ELMONT, N.Y. – Honor Code had a solid, albeit eventful final workout Sunday morning in preparation for a start next Saturday in the Grade 2, $400,000 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park.

Honor Code went five furlongs in 1:00.82 while chasing a pair of Graham Motion-trained horses that broke off eight to 10 lengths ahead of him.

As has been the case several times, Honor Code refused to go when jockey Javier Castellano wanted him to gallop toward the pole and begin his work. The horse was doing his best Michael Jackson moon-walking impression back to the six-furlong pole.

After several minutes, Castellano was able to get Honor Code going in the right direction, and he broke into a sturdy gallop at the 5 1/2 furlong pole. A pair of Motion horses, Champagne-bound Rafting and the 2-year-old turf maiden War Order, broke off well ahead of Honor Code.

Honor Code was supposed to work a half-mile, but he went from the five-furlong pole to the half-mile pole in 12.86 seconds.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said Castellano told him when Honor Code got going, he “was afraid to slow him down.”

The Motion pair was going a little slow early, and Honor Code must have picked them up in his field of vision because he was moving like they were Liam's Map and/or Private Zone. Castellano took Honor Code about four or five paths wide in the stretch, and he set his sights after that duo.

Honor Code, without Castellano asking, got his final quarter in 23.89, closing in on War Order, who was being left behind by Rafting. As Honor Code galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.96, he was getting closer to Rafting, though he never did get by that horse. Honor Code galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26.37 and a mile in 1:42.64.

McGaughey said Castellano guided him to the outside because he didn’t want to pass those horses and didn’t want to go on the inside because he didn’t want to go too fast.

“He said, ‘I was just a passenger,’ ” McGaughey said. “I think it all worked out really well.”

As McGaughey was walking back to his car to drive back to his barn, he said he hold his assistant, Robbie Medina, “This is a remarkable horse. He goes out there and works, drops his head, and goes home.”

Honor Code, winner of the Metropolitan Handicap and Whitney Stakes, was assigned 124 pounds for the Kelso. His rivals are expected to include Tamarkuz (118), Mshawish (117), Red Vine (116), Vyjack (116), and Scarly Charly (113).