Honor Code works ‘unbelievably good’

ELMONT, N.Y. – Honor Code, third in the Grade 2 Kelso on Oct. 3, was back on the work tab Monday, drilling five furlongs in 1:00.56 over the Belmont Park main track. Honor Code is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Trainer Shug McGaughey had the work begin at the three-furlong pole – in the middle of the far turn – and go to the 1 1/4-mile pole. Belmont clockers had Honor Code in splits of 25 seconds and 48.60 and caught him galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.27 and seven furlongs in 1:26.17.

“I thought he worked unbelievably good today, maybe the best I’ve seen him work all year,” McGaughey said. “No mistakes, very consistent in what he did, very easy.”

McGaughey said he had exercise rider Donna McMullen break Honor Code off at the three-eighths pole to try to “fool him a little bit.” Honor Code has had a habit of refusing to go when he breaks somewhere along the backstretch.

McGaughey said he plans to work Honor Code two more times at Belmont before shipping him to Keeneland on Oct. 26.