CODE OF HONOR TAKES THE JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP ON DISQUALIFICATION EAST COAST VERSION OF SUPER SATURDAY

CODE OF HONOR (Left)

CODE OF HONOR came out a slightly fortunate winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup on a disqualification over Vino Rosso at Belmont Park on Super Saturday. There were only five horses in the hotly contested race but it could have gone any way turning into the stretch. A furious battle ensued between the two main contestants with lots of bumping, and the winning margin was a very short head. The eventual winner was ridden by John Velazquez, and the unlucky loser by Irad Ortiz Jr.

Velazquez had flown in from Santa Anita where he had a couple of winners on Friday to break Jerry Bailey’s Stakes record of 660 Stakes wins, so for Johnny V this was icing on the cake. The inquiry after the race was not too lengthy and the decision by the stewards was unanimous. Code of Honor has now won three times since being elevated to second via disqualification in the Kentucky Derby, and one of those was of course the prestigious Travers Stakes. The colt is trained by veteran conditioner Shug McGaughey, and he will now be the favorite in my opinion to take the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Tacitus finished third and Preservationist came in fourth.

IMPERIAL HINT

On the same card the Vosburgh was taken by the super sprinter IMPERIAL HINT, and he will be installed as the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Ridden by Javier Castellano, the son of Imperialism was part of a four horse field that saw him go off as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite. After seemingly cruising to an easy victory after four furlongs, Firenze Fire suddenly threatened and even edged the eventual winner. However Imperial Hint fought back to win the race by a nose for a repeat win in the Vosburgh. The horse that cost $25,000 originally has now banked $2.199 million with a record of fourteen wins in twenty three starts. However he has failed twice in the Breeders Cup finishing second in 2017 and third in 2018.