Code of Honor Cuts Back to a Mile for Dwyer

W.S. Farish's homebred Code of Honor was last seen rallying down the sloppy Churchill Downs stretch May 4 to cross the wire third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) before being elevated to second with Maximum Security's disqualification.

Trainer Shug McGaughey chose to skip the rest of the Triple Crown trail with the Noble Mission  colt, but the chestnut tops a field of six 3-year-olds in his return July 6 at Belmont Park. The $250,000 Dwyer Stakes (G3), run at one mile, will mark Code of Honor's first start around one turn since January.

"I knew going in that if we didn't win the Derby, we would wait on him. That was our game plan," McGaughey said. "He's been training excellent. He's mentally matured and physically matured and has done everything right since the Derby."

Runner-up in Belmont's Champagne Stakes (G1) at 2 after a stumbling start, Code of Honor debuted at 3 in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park, finishing fourth, 7 3/4 lengths behind Mihos. He gradually stretched out and rebounded in the March 2 Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) with a three-quarter-length victory, then finished third—6 3/4 lengths behind Maximum Security—in the March 30 Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) after he was bumped at the start and rallied off a slow pace.

Code of Honor, part of his sire's first crop, failed to meet his reserve for $70,000 when sent through the ring by Farish's Lane's End consignment at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He has since earned over $1 million for his breeder.

Centennial Farms' Mihos ran fifth in the Feb. 2 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes (G2) following his Mucho Macho Man victory and has not raced since. The Jimmy Jerkens trainee is also entered for the Dwyer and has turned in a series of sharp works. He last drilled a bullet half-mile in :47 3/5 July 2 on Belmont's training track.

Trainer Steve Asmussen is shipping up Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's Whiskey Echo from Churchill Downs. The Tiznow  colt hit the board in last year's Sanford Stakes (G3) and Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes and returned from a nine-month layoff May 27 to capture a six-furlong allowance optional claiming race at home.

The Dwyer marks his first start past sprint distances.

"I think given the distance and the fact he's stakes-placed at seven-eighths, this seemed like a logical step up after his last race, rather than go two turns and even further," said David Fiske, Winchell's racing and bloodstock manager.

"I was very satisfied with his last race. He has always been talented, and we always expected big things from him," Fiske continued. "There are a lot of options with 3-year-olds this time of year, so hopefully he can show us something and we can move on to Saratoga."

Three others who all made their most recent start at Belmont are entered: Majid, winner of four straight races, including the June 8 Easy Goer Stakes at 1 1/16 miles; Final Jeopardy, who cuts back an eighth of a mile after weakening to fourth in the May 11 Peter Pan Stakes (G3); and Rowayton, who was twice grade 1-placed at 2 in Southern California and won a 6 1/2-furlong allowance June 6.

Entries: Dwyer S. (G3)

Belmont Park, Saturday, July 06, 2019, Race 6

• Grade III
• 1m
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 3 yo
• 3:55 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Mihos (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	121	James A. Jerkens	5/1
2	2Rowayton (KY)	Joel Rosario	117	Don Chatlos	3/1
3	3Code of Honor (KY)	John R. Velazquez	123	Claude R. McGaughey III	4/5
4	4Whiskey Echo (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	117	Steven M. Asmussen	20/1
5	5Final Jeopardy (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	117	Jason Servis	8/1
6	6Majid (KY)	Luis Saez	121	Rudy R. Rodriguez	6/1