Honor Code expected to return in GP Handicap, allowance
tabbed for Top Billing
Knocked from last year’s Triple Crown trail by injury just
two weeks apart, both Honor Code (A.P. Indy) and Top Billing (Curlin) are nearing their
four-year-old
debuts this winter at Gulfstream Park.
Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said Grade 2 hero Honor Code is expected to make his return in the one-mile, $300,000
Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) on March 7 while Top Billing, unraced since finishing third in Gulfstream’s Fountain of Youth
S. (G2) last February, is likely to come back in a
second-level allowance race.
Both horses are scheduled to work Saturday morning
at Payson Park.
Honor Code suffered
a slight tear in his right hind upper suspensory and did not race between a
runner-up finish behind Social Inclusion in a Gulfstream allowance on March 12
and a one-length victory on November 22 at Aqueduct in his comeback.
“I was tickled to death with his last race. He had trained that way,” McGaughey said.
“The only thing I was surprised with was that he had trained so aggressive I
thought that he might lay up in the race a little closer. I think now that we’re
getting him stretched out a little bit hopefully he’ll place himself a little
bit better.”
Top Billing cracked a
right front cannon bone during a workout last winter following the Fountain of
Youth, which was his stakes bow and third start of the year at Gulfstream. In
his prior race, the chestnut rolled to
a 2 3/4-length optional claiming victory.
“He had a pretty significant injury and the biggest thing I wanted to do was
just try to get him back,” McGaughey said. “He’s ready to run.”
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