Code of Honor Returns with Sharp Win in Belmont's Dwyer

Jockey John Velazquez dropped his whip in the stretch, but that was probably the last thing he needed to guide Code of Honor to victory in the $245,000 Dwyer Stakes (G3).

Given two months of freshening by trainer Shug McGaughey after being placed second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Will S. Farish's homebred Code of Honor returned as sharp as ever in the Dwyer, finding a seam in the stretch and motoring to an impressive 3 1/4-length victory under a hand ride during the July 6 Stars and Stripes Racing Festival at Belmont Park.

"It might be good that he dropped the whip. We have to get to the next one," McGaughey quipped.

The next one figures to be the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course July 27, which will serve as a springboard to the 3-year-old division's midsummer showdown in the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at the Spa Aug. 24. But reflective of the patience McGaughey employed in steering clear of the final two legs of the Triple Crown, he also left the door open to training up to the Travers if needed.

"We'd like to make the Jim Dandy and the Travers," McGaughey said. "That has been our goal since the Derby, but if it looks like he needs a little more time, we'll give it to him. He's had two months off, and hopefully this will be an easy one on him. We'll get him up to Saratoga and see what happens. He's a pretty classy horse."

The class that carried the son of Noble Mission  to a victory in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and his runner-up finish in the Run for the Roses after the disqualification of Maximum Security was on full display as Code of Honor served up a vivid reminder that he intends to be a major player in the battle for the 3-year-old title.

"This showed some maturity and where he's going," McGaughey said. "Physically, I think he's bigger and mentally (better than he was in the Kentucky Derby). In the Derby, I think he was immature mentally. Today he was eating dirt, but when he found a hole, he was there.

"Hopefully, we can go through the summer and make our mark."

Code of Honor ($4.30), a 6-5 favorite, was last in the field of six while Zayat Stables' Majid and Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's Whiskey Echo battled for the lead through tepid opening fractions of :23.83 and :47.95. As the two longshots faltered, Final Jeopardy made a bid for the lead while Code of Honor moved up behind horses.

In the stretch, Velazquez tipped Code of Honor out a path, and he surged to the front at the eighth pole and then drew clear to cover the one-turn mile in 1:35.81.

"He ran as we expected," Velazquez said. "Today he put it all together the way we expected out of him. Hopefully, he can continue doing that going forward."

The result brought back memories of the Kentucky Derby in another fashion as owners Gary and Mary West and trainer Jason Servis—the connections behind Maximum Security—finished second with Final Jeopardy. 

"He ran so good. I don't have any excuse, we just got beat by a better horse," said jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. "We were second-best today. He never gave up. It's just that the winner is a good horse, too. He gave me everything he had."

OXO Equine's Rowayton, one of six horses transferred to trainer Don Chatlos after Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer was barred from entering horses at New York Racing Association tracks, was another length back in third.

The victory was the third in seven starts for Code of Honor and pushed his earnings to $1,215,820.