Code of Honor to Make Return at Belmont in Westchester
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Code of Honor enjoys turn-out time at Margaux Farm in January
William Farish's Code of Honor, a three-length winner of the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) in August at Saratoga Race Course, is back in training at Belmont Park and targeting the $100,000 Westchester Stakes (G3) at Belmont June 6 for his season debut.
"Code of Honor is doing very well," Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said. "If all goes well, I plan to start him in the Westchester."
The now 4-year-old Noble Mission homebred won four of eight sophomore starts, including the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, the Dwyer Stakes (G3) at Belmont, and a dramatic renewal of the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) at Belmont over Vino Rosso via disqualification.
The talented colt was also third past the wire in the 2019 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) before being elevated to second following the disqualification of Maximum Security. He finished the year with a seventh in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 2.
McGaughey said he is looking forward to getting started with Code of Honor with an eye on a significant goal at Saratoga this summer. The Westchester is the first step along the way, a 1 1/16-mile race for older horses on dirt.
"The Whitney (G1) would be our big summertime goal. We're just hoping that everything will continue to go right and carry us on through the year with the major older-horse races with the Breeders' Cup on our minds," McGaughey said.
McGaughey has a strong contingent of more than 20 horses stabled at Belmont as the spring meet readies to kick off June 3.
The trainer added that Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen's Pink Sands will point toward the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1), a 1 1/16-mile test June 13 for older fillies and mares that offers an automatic berth in the Nov. 7 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland. The late-running 5-year-old daughter of Tapit won her past two starts at Gulfstream Park, the Rampart Stakes (G3) and the Inside Information Stakes Presented by Runhappy Matchmaker Series (G2).
Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stable's Passing Out is likely to start for McGaughey in the $100,000 Beaugay Stakes (G3T), a 1 1/16-mile turf event on opening day June 3. The 4-year-old daughter of Orb has won three of seven starts, including a last-out allowance optional claiming race by seven lengths on the Tampa Bay Downs turf April 29.