Code of Honor Breezes at Belmont Ahead of Gold Cup

W.S. Farish homebred Code of Honor, a three-length winner of the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) last month, enjoyed a four-furlong breeze on Big Sandy Sept. 15 in preparation for the Sept. 28 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said the Noble Mission  colt, who was clocked in :50.55, breezed well in hand.

"He worked very well," McGaughey said. "I caught him from the three-eighths pole to the mile and three-eighths pole in 1:01 and (the clockers) caught him in :50 and change from the half-mile pole. He just went by himself and galloped along."

McGaughey said Code of Honor, who was elevated to second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and then won the July 6 Dwyer Stakes (G3), has thrived since his sensational effort in the Travers at Saratoga Race Course.

"He's done everything right since the Travers and put his weight back on real quick," McGaughey added.

Code of Honor will take on older horses for the first time in the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup, a Breeders' Cup "Win & You're In" event offering a berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in November at Santa Anita Park.

McGaughey said the opportunity to race at home made the Jockey Club Gold Cup an attractive option.

"He likes this track and the mile and a quarter ... and all I have to do is walk him down the street," McGaughey said. "The Breeders' Cup is still in consideration. We just have to get through this one and we'll see where we go from there."

McGaughey previously captured the Jockey Club Gold Cup with Vanlandingham (1985), Easy Goer (1989), and Miner's Mark (1993).

Tracy Farmer's multiple graded-stakes winner Perfect Alibi also breezed a half-mile Sunday, finishing up in :49.05 on the main track under exercise rider Amy Mullen in preparation for the Oct. 4 Darley Alcibiades (G1) going 1 1/16-miles at Keeneland.

The 2-year-old Sky Mesa  filly worked in company with Gary Barber's New York-bred maiden winner Violent Point, who was clocked in :49.12.

"She worked a half in :49. It was just a maintenance breeze. I was really happy with the way she did it," said Casse's New York-based assistant Jamie Begg. "They both were nice and relaxed and did it the right way. The filly she worked with broke her maiden New York-bred and we're just waiting for a New York-bred stakes or allowance on the grass for her. We think grass might be her forte."

Begg said Perfect Alibi will continue to train at Belmont for the time being.

"She'll probably stay here until Keeneland opens and then ship there to get a breeze over the track before she runs," Begg explained.

The Alcibiades is a "Win and You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).