Honor Code

[brucculeri]

It will be interesting to see how Honor Code gets to the BC. He had 9 weeks between the the huge fig in the Met and yesterday\'s Whitney. 8 weeks till the JCGC then 4 till BC. Got a 112 Beyer yesterday, probably translates to another huge fig. 9 weeks sure helped.  I think he could AP a run for his money but assuming Shug goes the NY route the spacing doesn\'t seem ideal.  Just sayin.

[miff]

Honor Code coming in at a fig equal to TG -3 at two reliable services, see what JB has it.Pace adjusted figs for Whitney have Liam\'s Map faster than HC even after weight and ground adj...still a loser though at the windows.

[ajkreider]

Before we get to gaga over HC in the BC, it\'s worth noting that the horse really running late was Tonalist.  Made up 4 lengths on the winner through the stretch to finish less than 2 back.  I\'ll take him over Honor Code at 10 furlongs.

[ringato3]

We watched different races.

Tonalist had no acceleration when the race was being run.  Honor Code moved by him into the turn like he was tied down.  

Coming late after the race was over, for 3rd, doesn\'t mean he is going to necessarily improve at 1 1/4.

Pletcher seemingly can\'t keep horses together, but if he could, Liam\'s Map ran the best race yesterday, by far, IMO.  (yes - an assertion, but not an unreasonable one for anybody that considers enervating paces to be taxing and take something out of a horse).  OF course, if Liam did get to the BC, he would have to run another quick pace to put away American Pharaoh (or the reverse happening).

Could get interesting.

Before the Haskell didn\'t think AP had much of a shot against older.  Running as fast as he did there, while under a stranglehold late, makes me think that Baffert isn\'t blowing smoke when he says the horse is still improving.

Rob

[brucculeri]

No question Tonalist is a legit 1 1/4 mile horse but HC has beaten him twice by open lengths. With his pedigree on top and bottom, running style and connections I think it would be unwise to assume HC can\'t get the distance.  
The key I believe is how they get him to the BC.  He obviously flourished with rest between huge efforts. If they all stay sound it will be a hell of a race..

[ajkreider]

Won\'t disagree that running on late to get a minor piece flatters horses, but HC sure looked all out to win.  Tonalist went 31 feet farther than the winner and 18 than the runner up, while finishing up in :12.13.  

That\'s two races in a row that Tonalist gets started too late.  Maybe he just doesn\'t have the acceleration, as you say.

[ringato3]

AJ,

I watched the replay a few more times after I posted that.

A couple thoughts:

1.  Liam\'s Map did take a strange step or two after SMith hit him with the whip.  It likely did cost him the race.  (not blaming Smith at all, he is supposed to hit him at that point to keep him focused with a big lead and the wire coming).  Horse was tired late of course, but have to think the slight loss of momentum cost him the race.  

2.  Tonalist ran better than I thought.  He was coming hard late.  Hard for me to forgive him for being BEHIND Honor Code when they both started their moves, as Tonalist seemingly has more tactical speed, but that said, perhaps at 1 1/4 he runs better.  

Very tough call on all these horses in their next races.  Honor Code proved he can run big at two turns, but he is one of those horses that is at the mercy of there being a fast pace.  Tonalist seems to have lost whatever tactical speed he used to have.  Never a good sign.  While it was clear to me that Liam\'s Map ran a monster race, hard to feel good about him going longer than 1 1/8th in the future.

Maybe Palace Malice runs huge today and he joins the elite horses pointing for the BC.

Rob

[johnnym]

Got to think if H.C meets A.P in the BCC that there will be a legit pace and a 1/8 mile longer. Correct me if im wrong but AP would get a weight break being a 3 year old correct?

[CIRCLEOFROSES]

AP will race with 122.Getting 4 pounds from his older friends.