Honor Code, Top Billing Near 4YO Debuts
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Knocked from last year's Triple Crown trail by injury just two weeks apart, both Honor Code and Top Billing are nearing their 4-year-old debuts this winter at Gulfstream Park.
Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said 2013 Remsen Stakes (gr. II) winner Honor Code is expected to make his return in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) at one mile March 7.
Off since finishing third in Gulfstream's Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) last February, Top Billing is likely to come back in a second-level allowance race. Both horses are scheduled to work the morning of Jan. 31 at Payson Park.
Lane's End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm's Honor Code suffered a slight tear in his right hind upper suspensory. The son of A.P. Indy did not race between a runner-up finish behind Social Inclusion in a Gulfstream allowance test March 12 and a one-length victory Nov. 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack in his comeback.
"I was tickled to death with his last race. He had trained that way," McGaughey said. "The only thing I was surprised with was that he had trained so aggressive I thought that he might lay up in the race a little closer. I think now that we're getting him stretched out a little bit, hopefully he'll place himself a little bit better."
William Farish and E.J. Hudson Jr.'s Top Billing cracked a right front cannon bone during a workout last winter following the Fountain of Youth, which was his third start of the year at Gulfstream and stakes debut. In his prior race, the chestnut son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin rolled to a 2 3/4-length optional claiming allowance victory.
"He had a pretty significant injury, and the biggest thing I wanted to do was just try to get him back," McGaughey said. "He's ready to run."