Grade 1 Winner Honor A. P. Retires

Honor A. P. retires as the top earner of his leading second-crop sire Honor Code, and he will arrive at Lane's End on Sept. 15. 

In Honor A. P.'s most recent run, he suffered an unlucky trip and finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). In that outing, he posted a 99 Beyer Speed Figure and traveled 49 more feet than the winner of the race, Authentic. When accounting for ground loss, the colt ran the fastest race of the field. 

"Honor A. P. is a horse with immense talent," said the trainer. "He was so forward and precocious that he broke his maiden second time out by over five lengths going two turns. Honor A. P. showed brilliance as a 2-year-old from the first time I saw him train and replicated it as a 3-year-old, defeating the future Kentucky Derby winner. He ran a super race in the Derby and we later found that he came out of the race with an injury, so all things considered, what he accomplished was something special."

In the colt's 2-year-old season, he broke his maiden at Santa Anita Park by 5 1/4 lengths and registered a 91 Beyer Speed Figure, which was one of the highest of his generation. 

As a 3-year-old, his fist start was in graded stakes company, where he took second in the San Felipe Stakes (G2). Following that performance, he won the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1), where he posted a 102 Beyer. Honor A. P. was the only horse to overcome eventual Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, and he also beat Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG and E and KU (G2) winner Rushie. 

The Santa Anita Derby is known for producing top sires and winners including A.P. Indy, Sunday Silence, Affirmed, Pioneerof the Nile, and more. Honor A. P. went on to post a 102 Beyer in the Shared Belief Stakes, which meant he was one of four 3-year-old colts in 2020 to register multiple triple-digit Beyers beyond one mile.

"Honor A. P. was a 'wow' horse from the beginning. He was the highest-priced yearling in Honor Code's first crop. He was a standout 2-year-old at April Mayberry's, and the most recognizable horse in training at Santa Anita," said Bill Farish with Lane's End. "His stunning good looks paired with his obvious talent make him just the type of prospect we are looking for at Lane's End."

Honor A. P. is out of Hollywood Story, a multiple grade 1 winner who has career earnings of $1,171,105. She is a half brother to three black-type horses. 

Hollywood Story is by Wild Rush, and Honor A. P.'s sire Honor Code is one of four second-crop sires to produce grade 1 winners in 2020. The other three included Liam's Map, Constitution, and Mr Speaker. 

Honor A. P. is Honor Code's highest-priced yearling, with a final bid of $850,000 coming from David Ingordo for Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale, in 2018.

"Like any owner in this game, Susan and I have long dreamt about having a leading Derby contender," said Lee Searing. "Honor A. P. has given us the journey of a lifetime, and we are excited to stay involved in his next career as a stallion where we know he'll be in great hands at Lane's End."

A stud fee will be determined in the following weeks as Honor A. P. will be available for inspection at Lane's End farm.