Honor Code Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth with Whitney Win

Honor Code Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth with Whitney Win: A.P. Indy was pensioned in 2010, ending the era of the super sire who stood at Lane’s End Farm since his retirement from racing in 1992 following his win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. After beginning with a $50,000 stud fee, A.P. Indy commanded as much as $300,000 while he stood at stud. In his heyday, he sired horses such as Mineshaft, Rags to Riches, Bernardini, and Pulpit.

With his last crop now at the age of four, A.P. Indy has had his last chance to ever sire a Kentucky Derby winner. However, his son Honor Code is looking to give him a Breeders’ Cup Classic win now that he has qualified and secured his spot.

Honor Code has two options on Breeders’ Cup weekend. He won the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap, providing him with an opportunity to race in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Now that Honor Code has won a Grade I race around two turns, he has also qualified for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in which he will face horses such as American Pharoah.

The win in the Whitney Handicap (GI) was a top performance for Honor Code. Trainer Shug McGaughey has always believed that his horse was something special.

“He’s an amazing horse. He has been, really, from the start, from his maiden race here in the slop when it looked like he was hopelessly beaten, and he won. He’s really grown into himself. We’re very excited and very happy about today. To be able to win a race like the Whitney is a big feather in our cap.”

Now that Honor Code has won the Whitney, he has multiple options for his next race before the Breeders’ Cup. He could go to the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, a track he has won over before. The horse could also possibly target the Grade I Woodward at Saratoga on September 5. This may be the most likely option.

Honor Code was bred to be a top competitor on the racetrack but also a successful sire once he completes his racing career. Sired by the mighty A.P. Indy, the ridgling is out of the Storm Cat mare Serena’s Cat. The horse carries on not only the A.P. Indy line and the Storm Cat line but also the female line of a highly successful mare, Serena’s Song. Honor Code has a double dose of Secretariat and a triple dose of Bold Ruler, two highly desirable stallions in their days. This is likely some of the source of Honor Code’s running style and desire for a fight. When Honor Code wins, he never wins by much.

Honor Code may very well be considered the top older male of 2015 after his Whitney win, and a win in either the Woodward and/or Jockey Club Gold Cup and then a good showing in the Breeders’ Cup Classic could easily make Honor Code an Eclipse Award winner at year’s end. If he were to defeat American Pharoah in the Classic, there would be talk of Horse of the Year for Honor Code, however unlikely it is that anyone will earn that award other than American Pharoah.

While the future plans for Honor Code on the track and the farm are unknown, for now, one thing is for sure: Honor Code, the best older male, will meet American Pharoah, the best sophomore, in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday, October 31, 2015.