Code of Honor has nice work

ELMONT, N.Y. – One of the key questions surrounding Code of Honor and his chances in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is how well he bounces back off what was a hard race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he was beaten a nose by Vino Rosso, but was elevated to first following the disqualification of Vino Rosso for interference.

Saturday, Code of Honor showed that he has rebounded quickly from the Jockey Club as he worked a half-mile in 50.13 seconds over the Belmont Park main track. While the final time may not impress, it was what he did after the wire under exercise rider Lexi Peaden that caught the eye. Code of Honor, galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.81, six furlongs in 1:15.06 and pulled up seven furlongs in 1:29.74.

“I just told her let him finish up good past the wire, gallop out good,” trainer Shug McGaughey said.

Code of Honor, a little on the slight side, won the Grade 3 Dwyer off a nine-week layoff and the Grade 1 Travers off a seven-week layoff. He came back in five weeks to run a winning race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and will be coming back in five weeks again in the Breeders’ Cup.

“He really came out of this one good,” McGaughey said. “The last two have been kind of surprising how well he came out of them. Racing and training have helped him.”

McGaughey plans a serious five-furlong workout next weekend, a blowout the following weekend, and Code of Honor is scheduled to ship to California on Oct. 28.

Maximum Security nears race

Maximum Security, who missed the Pennsylvania Derby due to a severe bout with colic, is pointing to the Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park on Oct. 26, trainer Jason Servis said Saturday.

The Bold Ruler will be Maximum Security’s first start since he won the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 20. Maximum Security was scratched out of the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 21 at Parx after becoming ill.

“He’s doing good,” Servis said. “I thought the seveneighths off the layoff would be good. I got a barn [at Belmont] which makes sense too. He doesn’t have to win, but if things go well we can do the Cigar Mile or the Clark.

The Cigar Mile is at Aqueduct on Dec. 7. The Clark, a 1 1/8-mile race around two turns, is run at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29.

On Saturday, Maximum Security was credited with a half-mile workout in 52.80 seconds Saturday at Monmouth Park. Servis said he would most likely ship Maximum Security to Belmont next weekend.

Come Dancing sharp in BC work

Come Dancing, who figures to be among the top choices in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, worked five furlongs in 1:00.91 Saturday morning over the Belmont Park training track.

With regular rider Javier Castellano at Keeneland, trainer Carlos Martin tabbed Rajiv Maragh to work Come Dancing.

Come Dancing went her first quarter in 25.84 seconds, three furlongs in 37.66 and got her final quarter in 23.25 seconds. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.14.

Martin said Maragh told him, “Now I know why I couldn’t beat her with Carrera Cat,” referring to the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom, where Carrera Cat finished fourth to Come Dancing.

Martin is planning two more workouts for Come Dancing at Belmont before shipping to California.