Golden Sixty Defies All Odds To Win Third Hong Kong Mile

Making his first start since winning the G1 Champions Mile some 224 days ago and his first start as an 8-year-old from the widest barrier in a full field of 14, three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS) (g, 8, Medaglia d'Oro–Gaudeamus, by Distorted Humor) turned in arguably the most dominating performance of an incredible career to win the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile for the third time Sunday at Sha Tin. Sent away as the 13-10 favourite despite all that was against him, Golden Sixty was one of the first to break the line and Vincent Ho–the only rider he's ever known–was able to get down into the three-wide line and had cover on the back of Japan's Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just a Way {Aus}) as Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) led from California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Going well approaching the lane, Golden Sixty was switched off heels, quickly gobbled up the front-runners and broke clear to the cheers of a packed Sha Tin grandstand. Golden Sixty, winning a 10th Group 1 race and his 25th from 30 career starts, joins Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan) as three-time winners of the Mile.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG MILE-G1, HK$36,000,000, Sha Tin, 12-10, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:34.10, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 126, g, 8, by Medaglia d'Oro
1st Dam: Gaudeamus (GSW-Ire, $179,486), by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Leo's Lucky Lady, by Seattle Slew
3rd Dam: Konafa, by Damascus
(A$120,000 Ylg '17 MMGCYS; NZ$300,000 2yo '17 NZBRTR). O-Stanley Chan Ka Leung; B-Asco International Pty Ltd; T-Francis Lui; J-Vincent Ho; HK$17,920,000. Lifetime Record: 3x Horse of the Year, 2x Ch. Miler, Ch. Middle Distance Horse & Ch. 4yo-HK, 2 30-26-2-1, HK$165,840,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus; and Rainbow Connection (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), GSP-Aus $139,595. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Voyage Bubble (Aus), 126, g, 5, Deep Field (Aus)–Raheights (Aus), by Rahy. (A$380,000 Ylg '20 INGFEB). O-Sunshine and Moonlight Syndicate; B-Torryburn Stud (NSW); T-Ricky Yiu; J-James McDonald; HK$6,720,000.
3–Namur (Jpn), 122, f, 4, Harbinger (GB)–Sambre et Meuse (Jpn), by Daiwa Major (Jpn). O-Carrot Farm Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Tomokazo Takano; J-William Buick; HK$3,680,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 13-10, 30-1, 12-1.
Also Ran: Soul Rush (Jpn), Beauty Joy (Aus), Beauty Etenal (Aus), Serifos (Jpn), Encountered (Ire), Lim's Kosciuszko (Aus), Cairo (Ire), Divina (Jpn), Danon the Kid (Jpn), California Spangle (Ire), Tribalist (GB). Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.

 

 

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Cody’s Wish Voted First Back-to-Back Winner Of Vox Populi Award

Cody's Wish, the gutsy 5-year-old winner of four of five stakes races this year and beloved equine pal to the late Cody Dorman, has been voted the first back-to-back winner of the Secretariat Vox Populi Award.

Secretariat's late owner Penny Chenery created the award in 2010 to annually recognize the racehorse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for the sport.

Cody's Wish's story is inextricably linked with that of his namesake, who lived courageously with a rare genetic disorder and passed away on Nov. 5, just six weeks shy of his 18th birthday and only a day after witnessing Cody's Wish battle to a nose victory in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.

Representatives of the Cody's Wish team will return to Santa Anita Park on Jan. 13 for the Vox Populi Award trophy presentation as part of the day's activities.

Owned and bred by Godolphin, trained by Bill Mott, and ridden by Junior Alvarado, Cody's Wish won the 2023 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Vosburgh Stakes (G2), and, for the second straight year, the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He also placed third in the Whitney Stakes (G1).

Beyond his victories and grit on the track, it was the horse's connection to Cody Dorman that elicited widespread admiration and affection from fans.

“Cody's Wish embodies all that the Secretariat Vox Populi Award represents. He has wowed us with his performances on the racetrack and touched countless people's hearts with his profound connection with Cody Dorman,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Penny Chenery. “In this 50th anniversary year of Secretariat's Triple Crown, it is inspiring to see the twin legacies of Cody and Cody's Wish honored through this award.”

For five years, Cody's Wish and Cody Dorman shared a unique connection, beginning with their first encounter in 2018 at Godolphin's Gainsborough Farm, a visit made possible by Keeneland's Make-A-Wish Day. Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome had relegated the then-12-year-old Cody to a wheelchair and rendered him unable to speak. An inquisitive 5-month-old foal—by leading sire Curlin out of the Tapit mare Dance Card—was introduced to Cody and put his head in the boy's lap. With that, the bay colt earned his name: Cody's Wish.

Over the next few years, a number of such sweet interactions occurred and the special rapport between the two continued to their earthly end—Cody's Wish ran his final race on Nov. 4 and Cody Dorman passed the next day—but their bond endures for those who know their story, beginning with Cody's family:

“We want to thank everyone who voted for Cody's Wish to help him achieve his second consecutive Vox Populi Award,” wrote Cody Dorman's father Kelly, mother Leslie and sister Kylie in a special message (below). “The feeling of amazement and happiness has never changed from the first moment we met Cody's Wish to this day and beyond. Seeing his performances on the track and his enduring love for Cody in person will be branded into our hearts forever.”

A fifth-generation great-grandson of Secretariat, Cody's Wish twice has earned the award that bears his forefather's name and represents the vox populi, Latin for “voice of the people.”

The owners of Cody's Wish shared their appreciation as well.

“Everyone at Team Godolphin is honored to see Cody's Wish voted by the fans as the winner of the 2023 Vox Populi Award. Both Cody's Wish's achievements on the racetrack and his relationship with Cody Dorman have touched the lives of so many both inside and outside of the industry. It has been an incredible journey and one we were delighted to share with Cody and his family. We are looking forward to seeing what Cody's Wish can do in his second career in the breeding shed. Thank you to the Secretariat team, the Chenery Family and to everyone that voted for Cody's Wish.”

Retiring with 11 wins in 16 starts and career earnings of $3,106,030, Cody's Wish will begin his stud career at Godolphin's Jonabell Farm, home of Darley's American stallions in Lexington, Ky.

Nominees for the award were submitted by the Vox Populi Committee, comprised of distinguished personalities from within and outside the racing industry. Voters also had the option to write in their own favorite candidate to recognize other exceptional horses.

In winning the Vox Populi Award last year, Cody's Wish joined the celebrated roster of racing stars who had received it previously: Hot Rod Charlie (2021), Authentic (2020), Bricks and Mortar (2019), Winx (2018), Ben's Cat (2017), California Chrome (2016 and 2014), American Pharoah (2015), Mucho Macho Man (2013), Paynter (2012), Rapid Redux (2011), and inaugural winner Zenyatta (2010).

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Baffert Adds To String Of Starlet Victories With Nothing Like You

Trainer Bob Baffert made it seven consecutive $200,500 Starlet (G2) victories as 2-1 third choice Nothing Like You controlled throughout Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Stretched back to two turns a month after she had rallied to win by a nose going seven furlongs in the Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar, the 2-year-old Malibu Moon filly established the lead from the inside immediately under jockey Juan Hernandez and was never seriously challenged on her way to a 5¼-length victory.

Owned by a partnership that includes Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio, and John Rogitz, Nothing Like You has won three times in a row after finishing second, eighth, and fourth in the first three starts of her career.

Out of the Brother Derek mare Miss Derek, Nothing Like You completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.78 and the $120,000 payday pushed her bankroll to $237,160. She paid $6.20, $3.60 and $2.40.

Although the outcome was no surprise, Baffert didn't foresee the Starlet would play out the way it did.

“I thought my other filly (Grazia, the 9-5 second choice who finished last in the field of six) would be on the lead,'' he said. “(Nothing Like You) was pretty fresh today because I'd backed off on her a bit because I'd just run her at Del Mar.

“(Hernandez) said she popped out of there and he said nobody wanted the lead so he just took it. Once I saw her on the backside with that long stride you could tell she was in control of the race.

“It took this filly a while to come around. She wasn't real quick. We knew once we stretched her out that would be her game. The longer the better for her.''

Overall, the win added to Baffert's record total in the Starlet. He now has 10, including the trio he won at Hollywood Park when the race was run as the Hollywood Starlet. His victories in Inglewood, Calif. came with Excellent Meeting (1998), Habibti (2001), and Streaming (2013).

The Starlet win was the second in three years for Hernandez, who also scored with Eda in 2021.

“She's improving with every race and distance is what she has always wanted,'' said Hernandez after his record 15th daytime Thoroughbred stakes win at Los Alamitos. “She relaxed perfectly. I let her go at the head of the stretch and she took off.''

Great Forty Eight, who was second under the wire as the longest shot in the field at 29-1, was disqualified and placed fourth for shifting out under left handed encouragement from apprentice jockey J.G. Torrealba and impeding Chatalas, the 9-5 favorite, with about an eighth of a mile to go.

As a result of the incident, the maiden Flynn's Chance, a 17-1 shot, was elevated to second and Chatalas was moved up to third.

Bred in Kentucky by Notch Hill Farm, Wolverton Mountain Farm, and Spendthrift Stallions LLC, Nothing Like You is out of the Brother Derek mare Miss Derek. He sold for $190,000 to John Rogitz at the OBS Spring Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in April. Wildheart Thoroughbreds was the consignor.

Baffert and Hernandez also teamed to win the day's second race with heavily favored Elwood Blues.

Although he had to settle for third money in the Starlit with Chatalas, trainer Mark Glatt tripled, scoring with Tiff With Jimmy in the third, Issa Court in the sixth and Top Gun Tommy in the eighth.

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Baffert Wins Seventh Straight Starlet With Nothing Like You

Nothing Like You (Malibu Moon) gave Hall of Famer Bob Baffert a seventh straight victory in the GII Starlet S. at Los Alamitos Saturday evening.

Drawn on the rail in the field of six, the last-out Desi Arnaz S. winner was sent to the front by Juan Hernandez and was pressed through an opening quarter in :23.24. She gained some separation through a half mile in :47.40, let it out a notch on the far turn and ran up the score in the stretch to win by 5 1/4 lengths over Great Forty Eight (Constitution).

The latter was disqualified from second and placed fourth after shifting out and interfering with favored GII Chandelier S. winner Chatalas (Gun Runner) in the stretch. The maiden Flynn's Chance (Medaglia d'Oro), third across the line, was elevated to second.

Nothing Like You, a $67,000 KEENOV weanling, $20,000 KEESEP yearling and $190,000 OBSAPR juvenile, is campaigned in partnership by Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio and John L. Rogitz.

“(Nothing Like You) was pretty fresh today because I backed off on her a bit because I'd just run her at Del Mar,” Baffert said. “Juan (Hernandez) said she popped out of there and he said nobody wanted the lead so he just took it.”

“Once I saw her on the backside with that long stride you could tell she was in control of the race,” Baffert said. “It took Nothing Like You a while to come around. She wasn't real quick. We knew once we stretched her out that would be her game. The longer the better for her.”

Nothing Like You earned her diploma by 6 1/2 lengths over the aforementioned Great Forty Eight while making her two-turn debut at fourth asking at Santa Anita Oct. 14. She turned back to seven furlongs to narrowly annex the Desi Arnaz S. at Del Mar last time Nov. 18.

“She's improving with every race and a distance is what she has always wanted,” Hernandez said. “She relaxed perfectly. I let her go at the head of the stretch and she took off.”

Pedigree Notes:

Nothing Like You, a $190,000 OBS April breezer (:10), becomes the 55th graded/group winner worldwide for the late leading sire Malibu Moon. She is the first graded winner and one of three stakes winners for her broodmare sire Brother Derek. A three-time stakes winner at Hastings, Nothing Like You's dam Miss Derek has also produced Tepin S. winner South of France (Quality Road). Nothing Like You is her most recent produce.

Saturday, Los Alamitos Thoroughbred
STARLET S.-GII, $200,500, Los Alamitos, 12-9, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.78, ft.
1–NOTHING LIKE YOU, 120, f, 2, by Malibu Moon
                1st Dam: Miss Derek (MSW-Can, SP-USA, $159,610), by Brother Derek
                2nd Dam: Quick Text, by Tiznow
                3rd Dam: Super Seniorita, by El Baba
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($67,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $20,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $190,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio and John L. Rogitz; B-Notch Hill Farm, Wolverton Mountain Farm & Spendthrift Stallions, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, $237,160. *1/2 to South of France (Quality Road), SW,
$156,005. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Flynn's Chance, 120, f, 2, Medaglia d'Oro–Venetian Sonata, by Bernardini. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($675,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $40,000.
3–Chatalas, 120, f, 2, Gun Runner–Indian Safari, by Indian Charlie. O-Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, Dan Agnew and William Chatalas; B-Dan Agnew (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $24,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, 2, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.10, 17.10, 1.80.
Also Ran: Great Forty Eight, Pacific Rose, Grazia.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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