Previously unbeaten at Saratoga and for the season, champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) became the latest victim of the “Graveyard of Champions” Saturday when run down late by the ever-improving Cody's Wish (Curlin).
The 1-9 favorite hustled up to dictate terms and was pressed by longshot Pipeline (Speightstown) through a :22.75 opening quarter and :45.10 half-mile while 8-1 shot Cody's Wish raced in a joint last. Jackie's Warrior turned for home in front with a stubborn Pipeline breathing down his neck and Cody's Wish winding up out in the center of the track. Jackie's Warrior shook loose as three quarters went up in 1:08.76 and appeared home free. However, Cody's Wish was just hitting his best stride and swept by the favorite just a few steps from the wire to spring the upset by 1 1/4 lengths. Pipeline held on for third.
“I really thought the style of this race would suit this horse. I was glad to see somebody going with [Jackie's Warrior], for sure,” said winning trainer Bill Mott, who also trained fourth-place finisher Baby Yoda (Prospective). “I didn't think it was going to be either of mine. I thought both of ours were going to settle back. I didn't know whether we were going to be laying second, third or fourth, and actually Cody's Wish was back a little further. I thought he'd be a little closer to the pace early, but as it turned out it was good that somebody entertained Jackie's Warrior a little bit. When he cut the corner at the three-eighths pole, I saw him moving. I know when he starts moving, he keeps moving.”
“When we turned for home and I saw Jackie's Warrior didn't take off, at that point we're taking a good shot at it, and right by the eighth pole I had a good feeling at that point,” said winning rider Junior Alvarado. “I still never underestimated Jackie's Warrior, but by the eighth-pole I definitely was all out and I knew it was going to happen today.”
Graduating at fourth asking at Churchill in October, Cody's Wish followed suit with a pair of allowance wins beneath the Twin Spires in November. Missing by a neck in Tampa's GIII Challenger S. Mar. 12, the homebred romped in Belmont's GIII Westchester S. in the slop May 7, running a 104 Beyer Speed Figure. He entered this off a win in Churchill's Hanshin S. July 4.
Pedigree Notes:
Cody's Wish is the 19th Grade I winner for his legendary sire Curlin. Sheikh Mohammed's operation purchased the winner's Grade I-winning dam Dance Card for $750,000 as a 2-year-old at the FTKFEB sale. All three of her foals to race are black-type runners with the other two being MGSP Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro) and SP Bocephus (Medaglia d'Oro). Her recent produce includes a yearling colt by Into Mischief and a 2022 filly by Street Sense. The 13-year-old mare was bred back to Gun Runner.
Saturday, Saratoga
FOREGO S.-GI, $589,000, Saratoga, 8-27, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:20.95, ft.
1–CODY'S WISH, 120, c, 4, by Curlin
1st Dam: Dance Card (GISW, $502,200), by Tapit
2nd Dam: Tempting Note, by Editor's Note
3rd Dam: Tempt, by Devil's Bag
1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $320,000. Lifetime Record: 10-6-1-3, $812,130. *1/2 to Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), MGSP, $676,544. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Jackie's Warrior, 124, c, 4, Maclean's Music–Unicorn Girl, by A. P. Five Hundred. ($95,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-J. Kirk and Judy Robison; B-J & J Stables (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $112,000.
3–Pipeline, 118, c, 4, Speightstown–Vivo Per Lei, by Empire Maker. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services; B-Eurowest Bloodstock Services LTD. (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2 1/4, 6. Odds: 8.00, 0.15, 15.50.
Also Ran: Baby Yoda, Drafted, Three Two Zone, Kneedeepinsnow.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPshttp://www.equineline.com/tdn/pedigree.cfm?tk=SAR&cy=USA&rd=09/07/2015&rn=9&de=D &ref=9104432. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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