Honor Code, Tonalist Gear Up for Belmont Meet

Grade I winners Honor Code and Tonalist remain on target for races on Belmont Park's Oct. 3 "Super Saturday," card.

Lane's End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm's Honor Code had his second timed workout Sept. 5 since edging Liam's Map by a neck in the Aug. 8 Whitney (gr. I). The 4-year-old son of A.P. Indy breezed four furlongs in an easy :52.52 on the main track at Saratoga Race Course as trainer Shug McGaughey mulls over starts in the either the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational going 1 1/4 miles or the $400,000 Kelso Handicap (gr. II) at one mile, both on "Super Saturday."

"He breezed this morning, went a little slower but he went good," said McGaughey. "(He was) traveling good, finished up good, came back good."

Honor Code, who also took the NYRA.com Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) in June among three wins this year, is being pointed to the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

"I'll make up my mind as we go on," McGaughey said.

Last year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner, Tonalist, is slated to van from the Spa to Belmont Sept. 6 in preparation of his title defense in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, according to trainer Christophe Clement.

The son of Tapit  , owned by Robert S. Evans, has finished behind Honor Code twice this year, running second by 3 3/4 lengths to the winner in the Met Mile and third in the Whitney in his most recent start. Tonalist emerged well from his own Sept. 3 five-furlong breeze, said Clement. Tonalist covered the distance in 1:01.90 over the Oklahoma training track.

"Tonalist is doing well," Clement reported. "He came out of his work in good order. He's still on for the Jockey Club Gold Cup and everything is good."