Honor Code Heads Field for Alysheba

Lane’s End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm’s Honor Code’s long-awaited Churchill Downs debut in the 12th running of the $400,000 Alysheba (GII) and an evenly matched field of nine fillies and mares in the 30th running of the $300,000 La Troienne (GI), highlight a stellar 12-race Kentucky Oaks Day card Friday.

Highlighted by the 141st running of the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), Friday’s program opens at 10:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) and features five graded stakes in addition to the Oaks.

Honor Code is two-for-two since returning from an injury that knocked him off the Triple Crown trail last spring. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Honor Code won the Gulfstream Park Handicap (GII) in his most recent start.

Regular rider Javier Castellano has the mount Friday and will break from post position seven in the 1 1/16-mile main track test.

Returning to race at Churchill Downs for the first time since finishing seventh in last year’s Kentucky Derby is Daniel Dougherty’s Ride On Curlin. Second in the Preakness (GI) last year to California Chrome, Ride On Curlin will be ridden Friday by Robby Albarado and break from post position four.

Also figuring to draw support in the Alysheba are the 1-2 finishers from Keeneland’s Ben Ali (GIII) three weeks ago: Protonico and Neck ‘n Neck, plus New Orleans Handicap (GII) winner Call Me George.

Owned by Sumaya U.S. Stables and trained by Todd Pletcher, Protonico returns to Churchill Downs for the first time since finishing second in last November’s Clark Handicap (GI). John Velazquez has the mount and will break from post position two.

Neck ‘n Neck, a multiple graded stakes winner owned by A. Stevens Miles Jr., has won four of his six starts at Churchill Downs. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Neck ‘n Neck will be ridden by Julien Leparoux and break from post three.

Call Me George, trained by Grant Forster, will be ridden by James Graham and break from post position eight.

The Alysheba will go as the eighth race with a 3:02 p.m. post time.

The field for the Alysheba with jockeys and weights from the rail out is: Den’s Legacy (Calvin Borel, 118), Protonico (Velazquez, 120), Neck ‘n Neck (Leparoux, 118), Ride On Curlin (Albarado, 118), Tarpy’s Surprise (Corey Lanerie, 118), Midnight Cello (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118), Honor Code (Castellano, 120), Call Me George (Graham, 120), Noble Bird (Shaun Bridgmohan, 118) and Cougar Ridge (Florent Geroux, 118).

Source: Churchill Downs