Code Of Honor puts it all together to land Travers Stakes

Code Of Honor provided trainer Shug McGaughey with his fourth victory in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga, 21 years after Coronado's Quest edged out Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop in a thrilling finish.

The son of Noble Mission, who was sent off at 4-1 behind the Khalid Abdullah-owned Tacitus, broke well but was content to sit off the pace in ninth but ultimately ran out a comfortable three-length winner under John Velazquez.

McGaughey told Bloodhorse.com: "We wanted to have a summer horse, and this was where I wanted to be and where we got it."

"I was confident that he had a big chance. I had about as much confidence today as I have had in a long time," he said. "I was confident I couldn't have done a better job than I had done. It was the best I could do."

Noble Mission: the sire of Code Of HonourCredit: Edward Whitaker

The victory took Code Of Honor's record to four wins from eight starts and earnings of $1,885,820 and it was a third win on the card for Velazquez.

The jockey, who was landing a second victory in the race, added: "I never had any doubts about distance as a problem, just him putting his mind to running."

"Today, I made sure, when I got him out to the clear, he responded right away, so I was very happy for him. We've been looking for this kind of performance for a long time and he's never really put it together until today."

Tacitus, who got the better of Mucho Gusto in the battle for second, was registering his third successive runner-up spot, having gone down by three-quarters of the length in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at the track last month.

Trainer Bill Mott commented: "I had one eye on the winner and one eye on mine. It looked like there was a good chance we were going to out-duel Mucho Gusto, but the winner, I mean, he rolled by pretty fast.

"No excuses. Looking back, I don't know what else we could have done."

Bisou denies Elate in Personal Ensign

The predicted matchup in the Personal Ensign came to the fore on a quality card, with Midnight Bisou just denying the multiple Grade 1 winner Elate.

Midnight Bisou, who was making it a sixth win in a row, just denied the unfortunate Elate by a nose and, in the process, gave connections a few nerve-wracking moments when waiting for the photo finish result.

Part owner Jeff Bloom told Bloodhorse.com: "I passed out internally three times waiting for the photo. I thought she got the bob, because this filly knows how to win."

Annals goes back in time for Sword success

Annals Of Time landed his first Graded victory since 2016 when running out a tight winner of the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes.

The son of Temple City's other top-level success came when winning the 2016 Hollywood Derby but only returned to the track in June after nearly two years on the sidelines.

"It's been a real team effort," trainer Chad Brown said. "A guy named Nick de Meric down in Ocala picked him out as a baby, and every time he has gone to the sidelines, he's gone to rehab with him and his team.

"He sent him back to us, now as a 6-year-old, in fine shape. We finally have had an uninterrupted training schedule and campaign with him."

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