McGaughey Plots Sophomore Courses

Lane’s End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm “TDN Rising Star” Honor Code (A.P. Indy), winner of the Nov. 30 GII Remsen S., worked four panels in :52.06 yesterday at Palm Meadows Training Center as he prepares for the GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Mar. 15. “He went fine,” said trainer Shug McGaughey. “He was very willing and got stronger as the work went on. He went a little slower than I wanted, but it wasn’t a problem. I’ll come back and work him Sunday or Monday with company and we’ll go from there.” Last year’s GI Champagne S. runner-up was originally scheduled to kick off his sophomore season in the GII Fountain of Youth S. last Saturday, but his schedule was pushed back after suffering an ankle bruise. If all goes well in the Rebel, McGaughey said Honor Code will “probably [aim for] the [GI] Wood Memorial [at Aqueduct Apr. 5].” Honor Code was the 12.10-1 individual favorite in Pool 2 of the GI Kentucky Derby Future Wager. McGaughey is keeping his options open for stablemate Top Billing (Curlin), who was third in Saturdays’ Fountain of Youth. “Obviously, we’d like to run him in the [GI] Florida Derby [Mar. 29] if he bounces back okay. But also, the [GII] Louisiana Derby is a possibility, as well as the Wood Memorial if Honor Code doesn’t run there.”