'Everything right' with Code of Honor for Jockey Club Gold Cup

W.S. Farish homebred Code of Honor, a three-length Travers Stakes (G1) last month, enjoyed a four-furlong breeze Sunday morning at Belmont Park in preparation for the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup set for September 28 over Big Sandy.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said the Noble Mission chestnut, who was clocked in 50.55 seconds, "worked very well."

"I caught him from the three-eighths pole to the mile and three-eighths pole in 1:01 and [the clockers] caught him in 50 and change from the half-mile pole," McGaughey said. "He just went by himself and galloped along."

A winner at first asking at Saratoga last August, Code of Honor has since added wins in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park and the Dwyer (G3) at Belmont ahead of his Travers coup.

McGaughey said Code of Honor, who was elevated to second in the Kentucky Derby, has thrived since his winning effort at the Spa.

"He's done everything right since the Travers and put his weight back on real quick," said McGaughey.

Code of Honor will take on older horses for the first time in the 1 ¼-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup, a Breeders' Cup "Win & You're In" event offering a berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita Park.

McGaughey said the opportunity to race at home made the Jockey Club Gold Cup an attractive option.

"He likes this track and the mile and a quarter...and all I have to do is walk him down the street," said McGaughey. "The Breeders' Cup is still in consideration. We just have to get through this one and we'll see where we go from there."

McGaughey previously captured the Jockey Club Gold Cup with Vanlandingham [1985], Easy Goer [1989] and Miner's Mark [1993].