Honor Code was a fan favorite when he was racing and for many good reasons. His pedigree is simply incredible; he is from the last crop of A.P. Indy and his dam Serena’s Cat is a granddaughter of the great mare Serena’s Song. Honor Code had a beautiful dark bay coat, lots of chrome, and a signature last-to-first running style that left sports fans breathless again and again. He is now a stallion at Lane’s End Farms and his first crop of foals have really begun to make a name for themselves. He even got a Grade 1 winner in his first crop when his son Honor A.P. won the Santa Anita Derby and his son Max Player recently finished third in the Belmont Stakes. To celebrate Honor Code, I have compiled some quotes said about him in the media that really show how special this horse really is: When A.P. Indy was pensioned from stud, Lane’s End Farm started looking for a colt who could really continue their sire’s legacy both on the racetrack and back at stud at their farm. They were so impressed with Honor Code that they decided to purchase part of him from his breeder Dell Ridge Farm when he was a yearling.
“Honestly, he’s one of the most remarkable looking A.P. Indys I’ve ever seen. We were so thrilled to get him being that it’s his last crop and how good he’s been to us. [Honor Code] was the entire package, a remarkable-looking individual. He’s beautifully balanced, very correct and everything that you’d hope for conformationally.” Will Farish, Thoroughbred Daily News, Breeders’ Cup “When Honor Code was in training, he was a little spoiled. He got a lot of peppermints in Shug’s barn. The rider would lean over and give him peppermints when he was walking to the track since he’s one of those horses who liked to stop and look around. A lot of good horses seem to do that and are more aware of their surroundings. Sometimes, even now, they have to give Honor Code a peppermint to get him in his stall because he knows how to work the system.” - Bill Farish, Thoroughbred Racing, Feb. 27 2019 Honor Code is known to come from behind horses to win, but the pace was so slow in the 2013 Remsen Stakes that he had to sit in second place. Nevertheless, he was able to come back at Cairo Prince in the stretch to win this celebrated two-year old race. "I didn't put him up there; he put me there. The way he ran the first part, he showed me more speed and was more comfortable and relaxed. I felt the pace was slow. The opportunity was there; I took it. I know he's a come-from-behind horse but the pace was slow. I didn't want to fight him.
I think Cairo Prince tried to make the strong, sweeping move and tried to get the jump. My horse is a big, long-striding horse and he anticipated it a little bit. He found a second gear and he came back. He galloped out very strong. The horse showed me he would like more distance. Today, he proved a lot. He's a special horse, and you can put him wherever you want." - Jockey Javier Castellano, BloodHorse, Nov. 30 2013
Honor Code experienced his only off the board finish in the Alysheba Stakes in 2015. Honor Code rebounded by winning the Met Mile (G1) in brilliant fashion!
“It worked out great. He broke well out of the gate, but I was concerned a little bit because for some reason he doesn't show speed early in the race. I was kind of concerned about it down the backside. At the half-mile pole, I asked him a little, but he didn't pick it up. At some point I gave up. I just wanted to take my time, and it paid off in the end. I saved all the ground, and forget about it, when I pushed the button he took off and gave me a beautiful stride. By the eighth pole I passed all the horses and it was over.” - Javier Castellano, NYRA Press Office, June 6 2015 The 2015 Whitney Stakes (G1) was one of Honor Code’s most memorable victories. He came flying from way out of the race to catch Liam’s Map by a neck. Liam’s Map complemented Honor Code’s victory by winning the Woodward (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) later that year.
“He’s an amazing horse. 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.” - Shug McGaughey, Post Star, Aug. 8 2015
Honor Code was retired to Lane’s End Farms after a third place finish behind Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic. His oldest crop are now three-year olds and the horse racing industry is really starting to see what kind of sire Honor Code will be.
“He definitely stamps them. They have a lot of chrome. They aren’t all the same coloring, but a lot of them have a lot of white. You can usually pick them out pretty easily. He’s a big-bodied, strong horse, and he’s getting that in his yearlings and 2-year-olds.” - Bill Farish, Thoroughbred Racing, Feb. 27 2019
“I would be hard pressed in my lifetime to come across another horse like A.P. Indy, but when Honor Code walks into the barn, you can’t help but go, ‘Oh wow, that’s a pretty nice horse.’” - Bill Sellers, Thoroughbred Racing, Feb. 27 2019
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