Code of Honor Back on Work Tab, Remsen Likely Target

Grade 1-placed Code of Honor turned in his first workout Nov. 15 since missing the Nov. 2 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), breezing three furlongs in :37.23 at Belmont Park.

William S. Farish's homebred son of Noble Mission  was the 5-1 third choice on the morning line for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile but was scratched the morning of the race when he spiked a temperature. Since shipping back to New York from Churchill Downs, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said the colt "hasn't missed a beat" and is likely to show up in the Dec. 1 Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

"I gave him a few days off (after the Breeders' Cup), walked him under tack a couple days, and today I thought he went very well," McGaughey said. "Just went on easy with the exercise rider on him. I'm pleased with where we stand after that.

"(The Remsen) is what I'm pointing for. I nominated him to the (grade 2) Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (at Churchill Nov. 24), but I've got another week if I stay up here, so I think that's what I'm going to do."

Code of Honor was coming into the Breeders' Cup off a second in the Champagne Stakes (G1), where he rallied after stumbling badly at the break. The chestnut colt broke his maiden first time out Aug. 18 going six furlongs at Saratoga Race Course.

"Obviously, it was (bittersweet) watching the Juvenile," McGaughey said of the race, which was won by unbeaten Game Winner. "Who knows what would have happened. I think the winner, we would have gotten the jump on (him) if we had broke good. (Game Winner) might still have been the best horse, but maybe we would have. But the winner ran a really good race and showed he's a genuine horse."