Confidently handled by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, last year's comebacking GI Runhappy Travers S. hero Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) kicked off his 4-year-old campaign with a well-timed decision in Saturday's GIII Westchester at Belmont.
Drawn widest in the field of nine, the Farish homebred settled slightly worse than midfield and was kept in the clear as Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro) made an aggressive mid-race move beneath Joel Rosario to assume command at halfway. Code of Honor began to hit his best stride three furlongs from home and had Endorsed to catch, but had lost significant ground on the turn. But keeping to his task, the chestnut gradually reeled in Endorsed and edged clear late.
“I think he beat a pretty good horse in Endorsed,” Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said. “They were pretty far in front of the rest of them. Coming off that long layoff, I was very pleased.
He continued, “I figured he'd like the track. Sometimes when it's like that and its open, anything can win, but I think the two best horses ran one-two. We'll have to see how he comes out of it. I don't want to do too much with him; running back in the [GI Runhappy] Metropolitan [July 4] is an option; I'm not ruling it out.”
Code of Honor, an Eclipse Award finalist for champion 3-year-old male in 2019, was last seen finishing a well-beaten seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 2.
He was placed first via disqualification over Vino Rosso (Curlin) in a controversial renewal of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. at Belmont Sept. 28. His sophomore campaign also included wins in the GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream and GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont. He was elevated to second after crossing the line third following the disqualification of Maximum Security (New Year's Day) in the GI Kentucky Derby.
Saturday, Belmont Park
WESTCHESTER S.-GIII, $100,000, Belmont, 6-6, 4yo/up,
1 1/16m, 1:42.39, my.
1–CODE OF HONOR, 124, c, 4, by Noble Mission (GB)
1st Dam: Reunited (GSW, $326,771), by Dixie Union
2nd Dam: Tivli, by Mt. Livermore
3rd Dam: Bold Boston, by Bold Forbes
($70,000 RNA Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-W.S. Farish; B-W. S. Farish
(KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III; J-John R. Velazquez. $55,000
Lifetime Record: MGISW, 11-6-2-1, $2,413,320. *1/2 to Big
League (Speightstown), GSP, $281,832.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Endorsed, 120, c, 4, Medaglia d'Oro–Dance Card, by Tapit.
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott. $20,000.
3–Forewarned, 120, h, 5, Flat Out–Fortune Play, by Five Star
Day. ($65,000 RNA 2yo '17 KEENOV; $40,000 3yo '18 EASDEC).
O/T-Uriah St. Lewis; B-Preston Stables LLC (OH). $12,00
Margins: HF, 6, 5 1/4. Odds: 1.25, 3.35, 59.75.
Also Ran: Joevia, Payne, Mihos, Monongahela, Senior Investment, Prendimi. Scratched: Backsideofthemoon, Wait for It. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Pedigree Notes:
Lane's End stallion Noble Mission (GB), a year-younger full-brother to superstar Frankel (GB) and a three-time Group 1 winner in his own right, has sired two black-type winners in his first crop to race and both are graded/group winners. Code of Honor's dam is W.S. Farish homebred and 2005 Keeneland graded winner Reunited, who is by the late Lane's End stallion Dixie Union, a GI Belmont S. winner and broodmare sire of 48 stakes winners to date. Reunited's other foals include Big League (Speightstown), GSP, $281,832; a 2-year-old colt by Karakontie (Jpn); and a yearling colt by Honor Code.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
