By Duane Fonseca
Godolphin will keep Cody’s Wish in training in 2023 after he was deemed to have returned well from his gritty victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland. The William Mott-schooled 4yo Curlin colt’s record boasts a win or placing in all his eleven starts and is tipped to join Darley’s stallion roster, with his latest triumph a second toptier win after he landed the Forego Stakes at Saratoga on 27 August.
Cody’s Wish showed great heart in winning on the Breeders’ Cup programme with his namesake Cody Dorman in attendance. He was held up at the back of the field by Junior Alvarado but started to pick up at the halfway point and made a sweeping move around his foes turning for home. Alvarado made him empty his tank in the straight and he gamely challenged Cyberknife to seize the lead close home and win by a head.
A further length and three quarters back in third was Slow Down Andy. Godolphin USA’s director of bloodstock Michael Banahan declared: “All at Godolphin are extremely excited about seeing him race next year. He came out of the Breeders’ Cup very well. He’s sound and healthy.
ABSOLUTELY VERSATILE
“Cody’s Wish continues to show his versatility having won the Grade 1 Forego sprinting, a total of five one-turn mile wins, including the Grade 3 Westchester, and now the two-turn Dirt Mile. We’ll give him a bit of a breather then plan out a 2023 campaign that again takes us to the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.”
Winning trainer Mott added: “This horse, he has a massive stride. He’s covering a lot more ground than you think he is. When he left the half-mile pole, he was doing some running. He extended his stride and he looked great. “His profile is starting to get pretty good right now and I’m sure he would be an attractive stallion for many people to breed to. Any horse that can win a Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile is going to be sought after.”
