McGaughey: Honor Code ‘is a two-turn dirt horse in the making’

While Honor Code’s immediate pedigree suggests turf, McGaughey is convinced the colt will be a dirt router (Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos)

At a race meet renowned for eye-catching performances by
two-year-olds, first-time starter Honor Code turned in one perhaps as good as
any Saturday for owners Lane’s End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm.

In a seven-furlong sprint through the slop under Hall of
Fame jockey John Velazquez, Honor Code broke with the field and then steadily
retreated until he trailed leader Jackson N Lorimar by 22 3/4 lengths after a
half-mile in :46. Along the inside on the turn, Honor Code came flying to win by
4 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:23 2/5.

In seven races run Saturday between 5 1/2 and seven
furlongs, every other winner was either in front or no more than two lengths
behind after a half-mile.

“I thought he ran good,” Hall of Fame trainer Shug
McGaughey said of Honor Code, who earned a BRIS Speed figure of 98.

“He broke fine. I thought he got a little farther back than
Johnny and I thought he would. Obviously, I was very pleased with the result. I
thought he was really striding out to the finish line. I think the future is in
front of him.”

Honor Code, by A.P. Indy, is out of the Mr. Prospector mare
Serena’s Cat and is a half-brother to Grade 2 victor Noble Tune. Serena’s
Cat won the Klassy Briefcase turf sprint stakes in 2007 at Monmouth Park while
Noble Tune captured the American Turf going 8 1/2 furlongs in May, yet McGaughey believes Honor Code is going to be a two-turn dirt runner.