Half to Code of Honor Faces Loaded Field in Debut
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Photo: Joe DiOrio
Racing at Gulfstream Park
A loaded field awaits Bears Watching, a Karakontie half brother to grade 1 winner Code of Honor, when he makes his debut Feb. 6 in a $50,000 maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park.
Out of the Dixie Union mare Reunited, the 3-year-old colt is a W. S. Farish homebred trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the same connections that campaigned Code of Honor to multiple top-level victories in 2019.
A field of 12 will line up for Saturday's six-furlong test, Race 7 on the card with a 3:10 p.m. ET post time, with Bears Watching departing the far outside under Jose Ortiz. A 10-1 shot on the morning line, the well-bred youngster faces rivals with some prior experience, led by 3-1 favorite Collaborate.
A son of Into Mischief out of grade 2 winner Quiet Temper, Collaborate was a $600,000 purchase by agent Mike Ryan from The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in 2019. He races for Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. Tyler Gaffalione has the call from post 10 for the colt's first start.
The 7-2 second choice is the Todd Pletcher-trained Democracy, a Quality Road colt campaigned by WinStar Farm and Tami Bobo. Another first-time starter, Democracy is a $400,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale grad and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 5.
Third choice at 9-2 is Jeebar, a son of Frosted making his second start after a runner-up finish Jan. 9 in a maiden special weight going six furlongs at Gulfstream. The winner, Candy Man Rocket, aired by 9 1/4 lengths while Jeebar checked in best of the rest in a nine-horse field. Juan Carlos Avila trains and Emisael Jaramillo has the call from the 4 hole.
Others of interest include Campeador, a New York-bred Jack Milton half brother to 2020 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) winner Mucho Gusto, Buck Moon, a Malibu Moon half brother to grade 2 winner Keen Pauline, and Dupuis, a $700,000 graduate of the Ocala Breeders' Sales July 2-Year-Olds & Horses of Racing Age Sale in 2020.