Belmont Park stewards on Saturday placed Code of Honor atop the running order of the Grade 1, US$750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup after a tight stretch duel with Vino Rosso, making a controversial call carrying championship implications.
Vino Rosso, the pace setter in the 1 1/4-mile final Breeders’ Cup Classic prep, re-rallied to put a nose in front of the younger, 3-year-old Code of Honor at the wire. But in the process, Vino Rosso drifted out multiple paths, making some contact with his rival on their way to a photo finish.
Jockey John Velazquez filed an objection against Vino Rosso and his rider, Irad Ortiz Jr., while at that point the inquiry sign already lit. Velazquez took off Vino Rosso, coincidentally, to remain on the Travers Stakes (G1) winner for this race.
After minutes of deliberations, a change was announced that awarded Code of Honor a victory and the fees-paid trip to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita that comes with it.
"Vino Rosso and us both ran winning races," said Shug McGaughey, who trains Code of Honor. "It's too bad it had to end up that way. We got on the lucky side of it."
Connections of Vino Rosso -- trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Repole Racing and St. Elias Stables -- will appeal the decision, a steward said in a press conference after the races Saturday at Belmont.
The final time was 2:00.30 and followed Code of Honor's other wins this season in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Dwyer Stakes (G3). McGaughey has spoken of targeting the Cigar Mile (G1) with Code of Honor rather than the Breeders' Cup but said he'll confer with owner William Farish.
This score also lends Code of Honor a case to lead a tumultuous 3-year-old race for the Eclipse Award given Maximum Security, a multiple Grade 1 winner as well, missed the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) due to a bout of colic. He's also questionable to make the Breeders' Cup.
Behind the Top 2 in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Tacitus, Preservationist and the longshot Olympic Village rounded out the order.
"I'm just really proud of Code of Honor," McGaughey said. "First time against older horses and as hard as he ran."
The trainer said Code of Honor "had to move a little bit earlier" in a compact field, ranging up outside of Preservationist entering the far turn in a battle for third. Tacitus, another 3-year-old, backed out of his early duel with Vino Rosso in the stretch just as Code of Honor tipped out widest of all with his bid.
