Honor Code squeaks out Whitney Stakes victory

Honor Code used an impressive stretch run to not only catch up to race leader Liam's Map, but then lunge forward under the guidance of jockey Javier Castellano to capture a neck victory in the $1.25 million Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015.

Honor Code, left, with jockey Javier Castellano riding, charged down the stretch and squeaked by Liam's Map to get the win in the $1.23 million Whitney Stakes on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Liam's Map finished second, while Tonalist finished third in the nine-horse race for 3-year-olds

Rounding out the very impressive field was Wicked Strong in fourth, followed by V.E. Day, Lea, Normandy Invasion, Moreno and Noble Bird.

Honor Code ran the 1-1/8th-mile race on a dirt track rated fast in 1:47.82.

The win gave Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey his third win in the Whitney, and his first one since 1989 with Easy Goer. He also won they year before in 1988 with Personal Ensign.

"He's (Honor Code's) an amazing horse," said McGaughey. "He has been, really, from the start, from his maiden race here in the slop when it looked like he was hopelessly beaten, and he won. He's really grown into himself. We're very excited and very happy about today. To be able to win a race like the Whitney is a big feather in our cap."

For Honor Code, it was his second Grade 1-stakes victory in a row, as he also won the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont on June 6.

In addition, the Whitney was part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" series, so Honor Code earned an automatic spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Owned by Lane's End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm, Honor Code, who is by A.P. Indy-Serena's Cat, by Storm Cat, now has six wins, two seconds and $1,978,260 in earnings in nine career starts.

In one other race on Saturday, this one the Black Tie Affair Handicap at Arlington Park, Yankee Dealer, with jockey Timothy Thornton riding, came from deep in the pack, then rallied down the stretch to pull off a victory by a head over Sweet Luca.

Sweet Luca finished second, while Super Soldier finished third in the eight horse field of 3-year-olds and up.

Yankee Dealer, who is by Yankee Gentleman-Lady Dealer, by Prospectors Gamble, ran the 1-1/16th-mile race on a turf course rate firm in 1:42.85.

Trained by Michael Reavis, and co-owned by Reavis and Greco Racing Stable, 6-year-old Yankee Dealer now has 11 wins, seven seconds, three thirds and $367,452 in earnings in 33 career starts.

Black Tie Affair was the 1991 Horse of the Year, and upset winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic that same year..

Black Tie Affair, 1991 Horse of the Year, was retired to Old Friends in , and was euthanized due to laminitis in July 2010. (Photo by Rick Capone/KentuckyHorsePhotos.com)

He was retired to Old Friends in 2009, and was euthanized due to laminitis in July 2010.

(Information gathered from EquiBase.com, NYRA.com, BloodHorse.com, and PedigreeQuery.com)