C R K Stable's GI Kentucky Derby contender Honor A. P. (Honor Code) worked five furlongs prior to the first race at Del Mar Saturday, covering the distance in :59.40 (4/96) with jockey Mike Smith in the irons. The dark bay sophomore clipped off fractions of :23.80, :36.00 and :47.40 on a fast Del Mar track with trainer John Shirreffs watching the move from the frontside.
Del Mar clocker Toby Turrell, who timed the move, caught Honor A.P. going six furlongs in 1:11.40, seven-eighths in 1:23.80 and a mile in 1:40.00.
“It was a terrific move,” Turrell said. “You could have just as easily given him a six-furlong time and his gallop-out was outstanding. His seven-furlong time is the best gallop-out we've seen here this summer.”
Honor A. P. won the June 6 GI Santa Anita Derby and was most recently second behind Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) in the Aug. 1 Shared Belief S. He could give the team of Sherriffs and Smith their second Derby win together following Giacomo (Holy Bull)'s 50-1 upset in the 2005 Run for the Roses.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
