Night Code Becomes First Winner for Honor Code

Lane's End's freshman sire Honor Code  was represented by his first winner July 11 when his son Night Code battled throughout a 5 1/2-furlong test for 2-year-olds at Laurel Park. The colt's debut was almost a two-horse race.

Racing four wide, Night Code was part of a tightly grouped bunch that was led by Matthew Schera's Fishman through an opening quarter-mile in :23.03. At the top of the turn, Fishman and Night Code broke away, leaving Night Code in the two path as the pair continued to battle. In the stretch, others rejoined them but did little to overcome the determined duo.

Jockey Feargal Lynch had to straighten Night Code after he momentarily veered right at the top of the stretch, but the colt was able to inch forward to gain a half-length lead over his foe at the wire, stopping the clock in 1:04.85 over the fast track. 

Trained by Steve Asmussen for St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds, Night Code is a half brother to dual grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories (by Malibu Moon ). The partnership bought the colt from the Lane's End consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $500,000.

Summer Wind Equine bred the siblings in Kentucky out of the homebred Unbridled's Song mare Unenchantedevening, a half sister to 1997 Horse of the Year and champion 2-year-old colt Favorite Trick. 

Night Code's second dam, Evil Elaine, also produced grade 1-placed Medievil Hero, grade 3-placed Tricky Elaine, and stakes winner Cold n Calculating. Tricky Elaine is the dam of 2015 Twinspires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) third Favorite Tale.

Video: Race 1 (MSW) at LRL on 7/11/19

Honor Code, who won the 2015 Whitney Stakes (G1) and placed third in that year's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) just before his retirement, was named champion older horse for that 4-year-old season. 

Now 8, the son of A.P. Indy stands for a fee of $40,000. His progeny have been well-received at auction, with a son out of grade 1 winner Hollywood Story selling for $850,000 at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in New York. Named Honor A.P., that colt was bought by CRK Stable and has yet to make a start.

To date, Honor Code's yearling average is $217,337, with 63 sold totaling more than $13.69 million. His eight 2-year-olds to sell so far have averaged $130,375, totaling just over $1 million, and 19 weanlings sold brought more than $2.55 million at an average of $134,316.