Back in the winner’s circle after a brief absence, Cody’s Wish has one final mission before heading into retirement – a second straight victory in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) next month.
Cody’s Wish started slowly, as usual, but went on to win the $400,000 Vosburgh (G2) by 1 ½ lengths at Aqueduct on Sunday, halting a one-race losing streak that had ended a six-race winning streak.
”It’s great just having him back (in the winner’s circle). We would have been really disappointed had he not been able to handle this group. He was supposed to win,’’ trainer Bill Mott said. “I thought he did it well enough and at the wire, he was getting away from them.”
Cody’s Wish has now won 10 of his last 12 races, the only losses over that period at distances over a mile. The 7-furlong Vosburgh was simply a final tune-up for the BC Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
While the win was an automatic qualifier, with all-fees paid, to the BC Sprint (G1), the Godolphin-owned 5-year-old is being pointed to the Dirt Mile, a race he won last year by a head over Cyberknife at Keeneland.
“Everything else was just a bonus to top it off,’’ Banahan said. “In this situation, we’ll try to be a repeat winner of the Breeders’ Cup (Dirt) Mile. We’re hoping he can do that again, he’s obviously one of the best horses in the country and we’d like to maintain that position if we can.”
He’s certainly one of the most popular. Cody’s Wish, a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, was named for Cody Dorman, the teenager born with a rare genetic disorder called Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. He uses a wheelchair and communicates with a table.” Dorman has been at the track for several of his namesake’s victories.
Cody’s Wish, who has earned more than $2.5 million, once again had a minor gate issue.
“Right when he loads, he started acting up. He fixed himself up a little bit there, but not 100%,’’ regular rider Junior Alvarado said. “And then they broke so I don’t think he got a chance to get his feet from underneath him … We had to put up with a little fight there, but I knew I had the horse to fight him (Accretive).”
Accretive, the 9-2 second choice, had the lead after a half mile, but Cody’s Wish ($2.30 for a $2 win bet) took charge through the stretch, covering 7 furlongs in 1:21.83. The track was listed as fast and took place a day later than scheduled due to torrential rains Friday and Saturday.
Zandon rules Woodward; Double DQ lifts Caramel Swirl in Gallant Bloom
Also Sunday, Zandon ($4) was a 4 ¼-length winner over Film Star in the $400,000 Woodward (G2), and favorite Caramel Swirl ($3.90) was declared the winner of the $250,000 Gallant Bloom (G2) after a double disqualification of Sterling Silver (from first to second) and Headland (from second to third), both for interference inside the furlong pole.
Zandon’s trainer Chad Brown said the 4-year-old colt will close out his racing career in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 4. Zandon finished second in his previous three starts – the Westchester (G2), the Met Mile (G1), and he Whitney (G1) — before his Woodward win.
The $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) was postponed from Sunday to Saurday (Oct. 7) due to unsafe turf conditions. The race will open with the original nominees and the field will be re-drawn on Wednesday (Oct. 4).