Honor Code’s scheduled 2014 debut in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth at
Gulfstream Park on February 22 is in serious doubt due to a minor issue
discovered by trainer Shug McGaughey.
“We had a little setback. He’ll go back to the track on Friday,” McGaughey
said Wednesday. “He bruised up his back ankles a little bit. I think he’ll be
fine. I wasn’t sure about what was the matter with him. Now I think we have it
pinpointed.”
Honor Code, who is in training at Payson Park in Indiantown, Florida, hasn’t
raced since capturing the Remsen at Aqueduct on November 30. The son of A.P.
Indy won the Remsen by a nose over Cairo Prince, who romped to victory in the
$400,000 Holy Bull at Gulfstream last Saturday.
“He’ll go back to the track Friday and see how he goes,” said McGaughey, who
saddled Orb for victories in the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Kentucky
Derby last year. “The Fountain of Youth isn’t likely. Where we’ll go, I don’t
know. The Gotham (at Aqueduct March 1) is a possibility.”
McGaughey said the likely absence of Honor Code in the Fountain of Youth
increases the chances that Top Billing’s participation in the 1 1/16-mile prep
for the $1 million Florida Derby on March 29. McGaughey saddled Top Billing for
a sharp last-to-first 2 3/4-length triumph in an allowance race on the Holy Bull
undercard.
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