Honor Code, Noble Bird Breeze for Whitney
Image:
Description:
Lane's End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm's 4-year-old multiple graded stakes winner Honor Code, coming off a stellar performance in the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park, continued preparations July 25 for an Aug. 8 start in the $1.25 million Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.
Working over the Saratoga main track Saturday morning in a dense fog, the dark bay runner completed five furlongs in 1:01 flat.
Despite the foggy conditions, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey was pleased with his horse's work and remained confident in his plan to enter the Whitney.
"You couldn't really see him because it was foggy, but he went fine and everybody was pleased. He came back fine and he's on track for the Whitney," said McGaughey.
Honor Code, who began his 2015 season winning the March 7 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II), endured a difficult trip in the May 1 Alysheba (gr. II) at Churchill Downs, finishing fifth, before winning the Met Mile on Belmont Stakes Day. The son of A.P. Indy will seek his second victory at two turns in the Whitney. As a 2-year-old, he captured the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack at 1 1/8 miles.
Also working for the Whitney on Saturday was John Oxley's Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) winner Noble Bird. The son of Birdstone went five furlongs on the main track in :59.90 for trainer Mark Casse, second-fastest of 44 at the distance on the day.
Also on the work tab for trainer Todd Pletcher was Liam's Map, who returned from a seven-month hiatus to take an optional claimer by 1 3/4 lengths on June 19 at Belmont. The son of Unbridled's Song has won his past four races, including the Harlan's Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream Park, and has only one blemish on his record, a second-place finish in his debut last summer at Saratoga.
"He looked very good in the little part we could see," Pletcher said of Liam's Map, who is out of six-time stakes winner Miss Macy Sue. "He seems like he continues to train well and is pointing to the Whitney. He's a very gifted horse, very talented. He's always trained well and he's always run well."