Courtlandt Farms’ Greatest Honour returned to the worktab at Payson Park in Indiantown, FL Saturday morning in preparation for a scheduled start in the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa March 27 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Trained by Shug McGaughey, the 3-year-old son of Tapit was timed in 50.20 seconds, the third fastest of 21 workouts recorded at the four-furlong distance, while breezing for the first time since capturing the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park.
“He worked nice – his typical work,” McGaughey said. “I think he bounced out of the Fountain of Youth good.”
Greatest Honour is 3-for-3 during Gulfstream’s Championship Meet, closing from well off the pace to break his maiden Dec. 26, capture the Jan. 30 Holy Bull (G2) and win the Fountain of Youth, all at 1 1/16 miles.
McGaughey is hoping that Greatest Honour will follow the example of Orb, whom the Hall of Fame trainer saddled for victories in the 2017 Fountain of Youth, the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby.
Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream, McGaughey saddled William S Farish’s Bears Watching for an impressive 7 ¾ -length victory in Race 7, a seven-furlong maiden special weight race for 3-year-olds. The son of Karakontie, who finished a close third over a sloppy track in his six-furlong career debut Feb. 8 at Gulfstream, is a half-brother to Code of Honor, the $2.7 million earner who captured the 2019 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream before going on to capture the Travers (G1) at Saratoga and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park.
Bears Watching graduates from the maiden ranks at Gulfstream Park
Bears Watching, the 3-5 favorite in a field of 11, was well placed along the rail before making a four-wide sweep to the lead leaving the turn into the homestretch and drawing away under Jose Ortiz. The homebred colt ran seven furlongs in 1:22.95.
“He’s my kind of horse, looks-wise and stuff,” McGaughey said. “All is good with him.”
Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger sent out his first starter since October 2019 for the well-stocked maiden race. Jim Tafel LLC’s Sensible Jim finished sixth after acting fractious in the gate and getting away a step slowly.
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