Honor Code breezes bullet five-eighths for Met Mile

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey had a cadre of workers

out this morning for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, but it was $1.25

million Metropolitan H. (G1) hopeful Honor Code (A.P. Indy) who perhaps had the most eye-catching

move, covering five furlongs in a bullet :59 4/5 under regular rider Javier

Castellano.

The move was the fastest of 26 at the distance for Honor

Code, who is looking to bounce back from a fifth-place finish in the Alysheba S.

(G2) at Churchill Downs. The dark bay ridgling opened his 2015 campaign

with a victory over multiple Grade 1 winner Private Zone (Macho Uno) in the Gulfstream Park H.

(G2).

"He did it easily," McGaughey stated. "He left his company

(Gold Shield) behind. I thought that would carry him along a little father, but

Javier said everything was good. He galloped out good, finished good...all

systems go so far.

"I just don't think he liked the track at Churchill, or at

least that's what I'm banking on," the horseman added about Honor Code's

first unplaced run. "He came out of the race good and

has had a couple of good works here at Belmont."

Also out for McGaughey were dual Group 3 victress J Wonder (Footstepsinthesand), who went four

furlongs in a bullet :49 over Belmont's firm inner turf in preparation for the

$700,000 Just

a Game S. (G1); multiple stakes-placed Reflecting (Elusive Quality), who covered the same distance in

:49 4/5 for the $250,000 Belmont Gold

Cup Invitational on Friday, June 5; and multiple Grade 1 winner Imagining

(Giant's Causeway), who

turned in a bullet five-furlong move in 1:00, also on the inner turf.