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McGaughey ‘Looking Forward’ To Running Code Of Honor In Saturday’s Whitney

Two-time Grade 1-winner Code of Honor breezed a half-mile in 49.04 seconds at 5:30 a.m. Monday morning over the Oklahoma training track in his final work for Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney at Saratoga Race Course.

Owned by W.S. Farish and trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the 4-year-old chestnut son of Noble Mission worked solo under regular exercise rider Lexi Peaden through splits of 25.1, 49 and out in 1:01.3.

“That's exactly what we wanted. I just wanted him to have a little bit of work and that's what I asked for him to go in,” said McGaughey. “I always breeze him on the Monday before he runs on Saturday. That seems to put him on his game. He's had two good works up here and he seems to be doing fine.”

McGaughey credited Peaden for her professionalism in piloting Code of Honor through his morning training.

“She does a great job on him. She doesn't miss a beat and I have confidence that he'll go out and do what we want him to do,” said McGaughey. “He's a pretty push-button horse. If I put a jock on him, he might go a little bit faster than what I want him to. This way, we'll leave a little something in there.”

Code of Honor enjoyed a tremendous sophomore season winning four of eight starts, including Grade 1 wins in the Runhappy Travers at Saratoga and the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. He launched his 4-year-old campaign with two starts at Belmont Park led by a win in the Grade 3 Westchester in June and a closing third last out in the Grade 1 Runhappy Met Mile on July 4 when traveling one turn.

McGaughey will hand the reins to Hall of Famer John Velazquez, a four-time Whitney winner, when Code of Honor stretches back out to nine furlongs in the Whitney.

“Johnny knows him well and he's been in these spots many times. I'm looking forward to running him a mile and an eighth over this track,” said McGaughey.

Velazquez has previously notched Whitney wins with Left Bank [2002], Lawyer Ron [2007], Commentator [2008] and Cross Traffic [2013], while McGaughey's trio of Whitney victors include Personal Ensign [1988], Easy Goer [1989] and Honor Code [2015].

A probable field for the Whitney includes By My Standards (Bret Calhoun), Improbable (Bob Baffert), Mr. Buff (John Kimmel), Owendale (Brad Cox), and Tom's d'Etat (Al Stall, Jr.)

The Hall of Fame conditioner said he is hopeful the compact but talented field will provide some speed to chase.

“The short field doesn't bother me. He's had short fields, deep fields, it doesn't matter, but I'd like to get some pace,” said McGaughey.

Code of Honor will attempt to become the first horse to win the Travers and the Whitney since Medaglia d'Oro did so in 2002-03. A Kentucky homebred, Code of Honor is out of the graded stakes-winning Dixie Union broodmare Reunited.

Shortly following Code of Honor's impressive breeze, Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's Eclipse Award-champion Older Dirt Female Midnight Bisou worked a half-mile in preparation for her title defense in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign presented by NYRA Bets.

Traveling solo over the Oklahoma training track, Midnight Bisou opened up in 25.2 and was clocked a half-mile in 50.55.

The 5-year-old Midnight Lute mare has notched all 13 of her career wins in graded events. Last year, Midnight Bisou won 7-of-8 starts led by Grade 1 scores in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park, the Ogden Phipps at Belmont, and the Personal Ensign at Saratoga, which she captured in dramatic fashion by a nose over Elate.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bisou kicked off her campaign with a second in the inaugural Saudi Cup and enters Saturday's nine-furlong test off an 8 1/4-length score in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs.

The probable field for the Personal Ensign includes Abounding Joy (Rodolphe Brisset), Motion Emotion (Richard Baltas), Point of Honor (George Weaver), and Vexatious (Jack Sisterson).

Ricardo Santana, Jr. will have the call aboard Midnight Bisou on Saturday.

Top Racing, Global Thoroughbred and GDS Racing Stable's Bodexpress breezed five furlongs in 1:02.12 Monday on the main track under exercise rider J.J. Delgado in preparation for the $85,000 Alydar, a nine-furlong test slated for August 9.

Trained Gustavo Delgado has a three-horse stable at Saratoga, overseen by his son Gustavo Delgado, Jr., which includes Grade 1 Runhappy Travers hopeful Caracaro and maiden winner Summer Kid.

Both father and son were trackside Monday and came away impressed with the breeze by Bodexpress.

“It was a good breeze, he went the last quarter very good,” said Delgado.

The 4-year-old Bodemeister colt was a late scratch before the start of the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup on July 18 at Monmouth Park and was nominated to both the Grade 1 Whitney and $85,000 Alydar.

“Today was a maintenance work because he was supposed to race last week,” said Delgado, Jr. “You can tell he is feeling good. He did that today all on his own and he didn't come back too tired. The Alydar makes sense especially since it's been four months since he ran.”

Bodexpress ran second in last year's Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream as a maiden and was elevated to 13th in the Kentucky Derby before becoming an internet sensation after unseating Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez at the start of the Grade 1 Preakness and completing the course of his own accord.

He then enjoyed a successful stop at Gulfstream Park West where he graduated in October and doubled up in November with a 6 3/4-length allowance score. Bodexpress has kept good company since through four starts at Gulfstream Park, finishing third in the Grade 3 Harlan's Holiday; fifth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational; off-the-board in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile; and a prominent third last out in the Grade 3 Hal's Hope on March 28.

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano is slated to ride Bodexpress in the Alydar and will also breeze Caracaro on Saturday in preparation for the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers to be held August 8.

Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing's Caracaro followed up on an impressive January 11 maiden win at Gulfstream with a strong second to Country Grammer in the Grade 3 Peter Pan on July 16 at the Spa, earning 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

“He likes Saratoga,” said Delgado. “He will work on Saturday with Castellano.”

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First Winner For Late Stallion Effinex Comes At Saratoga

A powerful turn of foot in the stretch by Effinity led to the first winner for the late New York sire Effinex on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course, BloodHorse reports.

After a slightly troubled start, Effinity ran three-wide into the turn, then swung even wider to take over the lead and draw off in the stretch by four lengths. The colt completed the 5 1/2-furlong race in 1:06.36 over a fast main track under jockey Luis Saez. Brad Cox saddled the colt for Zilla Racing Stables.

Effinity was bred in New York by Barry Ostrager, out of the stakes-placed Freud mare Letsshootpool. Grade 3-placed Show Me the Cash is in his extended family.

Effinex, a son of Mineshaft, stood his lone season at Questroyal North in Stillwater, N.Y., then moved to McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds at the end of the season. The stallion died suddenly in the fall of 2017 at age six due to a pulmonary artery rupture, leaving just one crop of runners.

He was one of New York's most popular stallions in his lone season at stud, retiring to his native state after a racing career that saw him win nine of 28 starts for earnings of $3,312,950.

Effinex got better with age, developing into one of North America's top handicap division runners with wins in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, two editions of the G2 Suburban Handicap, the G2 Oaklawn Handicap, and the G3 Excelsior Stakes. He also finished second in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Classic.

Bloom: ‘Hard To Come Up With Enough Adjectives’ For Midnight Bisou

Midnight Bisou, last year's Eclipse Award-champion Older Dirt Female, has given owner Jeff Bloom plenty of special memories.

The 5-year-old bay daughter of Midnight Lute boasts a resume which consists of 13 graded stakes victories over eight different racetracks and over $7 million in lifetime earnings.

Her sensational career will continue Saturday when she seeks back-to-back victories in the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign presented by NYRA Bets at Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bisou will attempt a sixth Grade 1 victory in the Personal Ensign having won all five of her triumphs at such caliber over five different surfaces.

As a 3-year-old, Midnight Bisou won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks while conditioned by West Coast-based Bill Spawr before being transferred to Asmussen following a third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. Three starts later, she picked up a victory in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing en route to a third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

At age 4, she came back bigger and stronger and put together an Eclipse Award-winning campaign which consisted of Grade 1 victories in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn, Ogden Phipps at Belmont and last year's Personal Ensign. This year, Midnight Bisou has not appeared to have lost any luster having displayed a game inside-closing effort in the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup in February and last out won the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs by 8 ¼ lengths.

“Steve couldn't be happier with how well she's doing,” said Bloom, who owns Midnight Bisou in partnership with Madaket Stables and Allen Racing. “She's been remarkable from the get-go, and it's just amazing that she continues to show that. She actually has more to show us.”

Initially slated to go through the sales ring at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale last year, Bloom withdrew his superstar mare from the sale to keep her in training for a 5-year-old campaign.

“We talked about it a lot, but we had made the decision prior to the Breeders' Cup that we would go ahead and campaign her another year and enjoy the ride. Fortunately, it's worked out well and she's already rewarded us substantially,” Bloom said.

Midnight Bisou will attempt to become the first back-to-back winner of the Personal Ensign since champion Beautiful Pleasure (1999-'00). She won last year's running in dramatic fashion, battling through the final furlong with Elate before getting her nose on the wire first and registering a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Talk about a lot of sweat and anxiety waiting out the stretch run and the photo finish which seemed to last forever,” Bloom said. “From a fan's perspective, what an incredible race to watch between two competitive fillies battling it out down the stretch. To end up on the right end of the photo finish was both relief and excitement.”

Never off the board in 21 lifetime starts, Midnight Bisou will be looking to not only defend her title in the Personal Ensign but secure a second Eclipse Award in what is a highly competitive division.

“She's been incredibly consistent throughout her entire career and she's showing us that she's improving,” Bloom said. “It's hard to come up with enough adjectives to describe what kind of a racehorse she is and what she's meant to our family.”

Despite her highly competitive nature on the track, Midnight Bisou is quite gentle around the barn, which Bloom says is one of many reasons why she is so special.

“It's such a perfect combination,” Bloom said. “It's like as soon as she puts her boxing gloves on, she's ready to go in the ring and she's focused. She just knows what she's supposed to do. But around the barn she loves the attention, the love, the affection and she is just so sweet. She's an absolute pleasure to be around.”

Bloom went on to speak of multiple stakes winner Snapper Sinclair, who breezed five furlongs over Saratoga's Oklahoma turf course Sunday morning in 1:03.75. The son of City Zip is possible for action at the Spa this meet, but Bloom said that the primary target is a repeat win in the Tourist Mile at Kentucky Downs on September 7.

Snapper Sinclair has shown an affinity for the all-turf course having won the Fasig-Tipton Turf Showcase Juvenile during his 2-year-old campaign.

“He'll stay there and train at Saratoga,” Bloom said. “We'll go for a third victory at Kentucky Downs if we can get it done with him. Whether or not he runs at Saratoga prior to the Kentucky Downs meet is still up in the air.

A veteran of 26 starts, the 5-year-old Snapper Sinclair has won on both dirt and turf with his only stakes wins taking place at Kentucky Downs. He has placed four times against graded stakes company on dirt and has accumulated $1,234,760 in earnings.

“He's a millionaire but he's kind of done it the hard way,” Bloom said. “He's got such a large personality. He has that striking white face. He's just a fun and exciting horse.”

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Somelikeithotbrown Scores Front-Running Victory in Bernard Baruch

While nobody is perfect, New York-bred Somelikeithotbrown was plenty good enough on Sunday, surging to the front while keeping plenty in reserve for the stretch, going gate-to-wire for a one-length win over stablemate Mr Dumas in the Grade 2, $150,000 Bernard Baruch for 3-year-olds and up at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Against a six-horse field, the Mike Maker-trained Somelikeithotbrown broke sharp from post 3 and led through comfortable fractions of 24.79 seconds for the quarter-mile, the half in 49.08 and three-quarters in 1:12.43 on the firm inner turf.

In the stretch, jockey Tyler Gaffalione kept his charge alert near the rail, outkicking the field, including a charging Mr. Dumas at the end, to hit the wire in a final time of 1:41.32 for the 1 1/16-mile course.

“I was a little surprised down the backside when I was all by myself,” Gaffalione said. “I thought there would be a little more pressure, but I was happy with where I was and how he was running. All the credit to Mike and his team, they had him ready today.

“Every time I reached back and threw a cross and when I got into him a little bit, he kept on responding and giving me more, so I was pretty confident coming to the wire,” he added.

Skychai Racing and David Koenig's Somelikeithotbrown was coming off a third-place finish at 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy on June 6 on a Belmont Park turf course labeled good. Bred in the Empire State by Hot Pink Stables and Sand Dollar Stables, Somelikeithotbrown posted his first stakes win since the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby in March 2019 at Turfway Park.

“It did but you have to let him run his race,” said Maker when asked if he was concerned about the speed holding up. “I thought his last race, he went a little too quick and opened up a little too much. But I thought it was a very credible race.”

Off at 8-1, Somelikeithotbrown returned $19.60 on a $2 win bet. The Big Brown colt, out of the Tapit mare Marilyn Monroan, improved to 5-3-2 in 13 career starts with total earnings of $546,838.

After crossing the wire, Somelikeithotbrown dismounted Gaffalione when moving from the turf course to the dirt en route to the winner's circle. Both the horse and rider were unhurt.

Mr Dumas, also trained by Maker, finished a half-length in front of 3-2 favorite Good Governance for second.

“I was very high on this horse and it looked like he showed up this afternoon as well,” Maker said.

Halladay, Olympico and Seismic Wave completed the order of finish.

Live racing returns at Saratoga on Wednesday with a 10-race card, highlighted by the $85,000 Dayatthespa in Race 5 at 3:02 p.m. Eastern. First post is 12:50 p.m.

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