Honor Code, Tonalist work toward Breeders Cup Classic preps

ELMONT, N.Y. – Honor Code and Tonalist finished first and second in the Metropolitan Handicap and first and third in the Whitney Stakes. Before they are expected to meet again in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, both horses will go their separate ways for their next starts.

Honor Code will run in the Grade 2, $400,000 Kelso Handicap going a mile, while Tonalist will run in the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, a race he won last year. Both races are scheduled for Oct. 3 at Belmont Park. Honor Code and Tonalist put in workouts about 15 minutes apart Saturday morning over a fast Belmont main track. Shortly after 6:30 a.m., Honor Code, with regular rider Javier Castellano up, blazed five furlongs in 59.50 seconds. Honor Code was a little reluctant at first, but after an outrider went with him for a few strides, he broke running at the six-furlong pole. The work didn’t officially start until the five-furlong pole and Honor Code went his first quarter in 23.71. He went three furlongs in 35.80 and got his final quarter in 23.70 while kept three to four paths out from the rail.

Honor Code galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.17 and seven furlongs in 1:26.47. “I thought he worked good,” said trainer Shug McGaughey. “I thought he finished up good. I was pleased with him. Javier was pleased with him. I thought we needed to get a good work in him. We got a good work in him. Probably come back in a week and put a little something in front of him, blow him out a half, and run him.” McGaughey said he prefers the mile of the Kelso to the 1 1/4 miles of the Jockey Club Gold Cup in his final race before the BC Classic, also at 1 1/4 miles.

About 15 minutes after Honor Code breezed, Tonalist went five furlongs in 1:00.69. His breeze began at the half-mile pole, and he went an opening quarter in 24.19 and his last three furlongs in 36.50 seconds. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.41. “I thought he looked well, and he was very wiling,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “We’re in good shape.” Tonalist won last year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup following a third-place finish in the Travers at Saratoga. He enters this year’s Gold Cup off a third-place finish in the Whitney. Clement said he plans two more workouts for Tonalist before the Breeders’ Cup.