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Rich Strike Withdrawn from KEENOV, to Remain in Light Training at Margaux Farm

Rich Strike (Keen Ice), winner of the 2022 GI Kentucky Derby, has been withdrawn from Friday's Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale and will remain in light training, owner Rick Dawson has announced.

“After much consideration, I have revised my plan for Rich Strike (KY Derby Champ #148/2022) and will not enter him in Keeneland Sales auction on Friday, 11/17/23,” a statement from Dawson read.

“At this time Rich Strike will continue his stay and light exercise at Margaux Farm. I would like to thank my family, friends and the folks at Keeneland Sales for their support and guidance in this process. I will make further announcements at such time it deemed to be appropriate.”

Rich Strike, last seen finishing a well-beaten fifth in the GII Alysheba S. at Churchill Downs May 5, was subsequently transferred from the barn of trainer Eric Reed to Hall of Famer Bill Mott.

Dawson told TDN's Bill Finley in late September that Rich Strike was rehabbing from a tendon issue and could target the GI Pegasus World Cup Jan. 27.

He was consigned to KEENOV as Hip 4001A by Candy Meadows Sales, agent for RED TR-Racing LLC.

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Channel Maker Arrives at Old Friends

Fan-favorite Channel Maker (English Channel), the 2020 Eclipse Award-winning turf male who made a record six appearances at the Breeders' Cup, has taken up residence at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky. The 9-year-old was donated to the farm by Adam Wachtel and his fellow owners.

Bred in Ontario by Ivan Dalos's Tall Oaks Farm, Channel Maker was a stakes winner at two for trainer Danny Vella and took the 2017 Breeders' S. He was a Grade I winner each year from 2018 to 2020, scoring his first such victory in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic before adding the Man O'War S. in 2019 and the Sword Dancer and a second Joe Hirsch the following year. He was also a close third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf en route to his championship.

A gallant second in the $1-million Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia at the outset of his 7-year-old season, Channel Maker retained his zest for racing into the latter part of his career, winning the GII Elkhorn S. in the spring of 2022 and this year's GII Bowling Green S. at Saratoga in gate-to-wire fashion. He retired with a record of 10-6-5 from 56 starts for earnings of $3,915,983.

“I've idolized Channel Maker ever since I first laid eyes on him devouring the field in the 2020 Sword Dancer at Saratoga,” said Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends. “He arrived at Old Friends covered in dapples and in spectacular condition. Our deepest thanks to Adam and his partners, and to trainer Bill Mott, for allowing us to show him off to his legion of fans. We are honored.”

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Cody Dorman, Inspiration Behind Cody’s Wish, Passes Away a Day After Breeders’ Cup

Cody Dorman, the inspirational teen who was suffering with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome and whose love affair with the two-time GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Cody's Wish (Curlin), warmed the hearts of everyone in the sport of horse racing, died Sunday while en-route from Santa Anita to his home in Kentucky.

The news was released by Godolphin on Monday morning in the form of an announcement from his parents, Kelly and Leslie Dorman.

The announcement read:

“We are heartbroken to share the news that our beloved Cody suffered a medical event on our trip home to Kentucky yesterday and he has passed away. On Saturday, Cody watched his best friend, Cody's Wish, display his usual perseverance and toughness in winning a second Breeders' Cup. Those are the same characteristics Cody has showed time and again for the 18 years we were blessed to have him. We have been completely amazed to experience the impact Cody has had on so many people, through the journey that this wondrous racehorse has taken us all on. From Churchill Downs, to Keeneland, to Saratoga, to Santa Anita this weekend, we could not move 20 feet without someone stopping to tell us just that.

“With Cody's diagnosis at birth, we always knew this day would come, but we were determined to help Cody live his best life for however long we had him. Anyone who has seen him at the racetrack, especially around Cody's Wish, understands that in many ways he taught us all how to live, always keeping a positive attitude and being more concerned about those around him than himself.”

Following the news of Dorman's death, the Breeders' Cup issue the following statement:

“The entire Breeders' Cup team is devastated by the news of Cody Dorman's passing yesterday. His story captured our hearts and minds, and his strength, spirit, and determination were fittingly embodied by his namesake's commanding performances in his honor. We send our sincere condolences to the Dormans, who gave our sport so much by welcoming us into their family.”

As a young teenager, Dorman and his family visited Gainsborough Farm in Kentucky thanks to Keeneland and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Despite being in a wheelchair, Cody's Wish–at the time an unnamed foal–sniffed the boy and put his head in his lap, forming a bond between the horse and the boy that would last throughout the colt's career, which ended Saturday with his second Breeders' Cup win. Dorman and his family were able see a number of the 5-year-old's 16 career races in Kentucky, New York and California and were in the winner's circle for both Breeders' Cup victories.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations be made to Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana. Funeral arrangements are pending.

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Cody’s Wish To Stand For $75,000, Proxy For $25,000 Says Darley America

MGISW Cody's Wish (Curlin), who just won yesterday's GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile for the second year in a row, will stand at Darley America's Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky next season for $75,000, along with fellow new stallion GISW Proxy (Tapit) whose fee will be set at $25,000, the breeding operation said in a release early Sunday morning.

“You couldn't have written a better script on how Cody's Wish would end his sensational career,” said Darley Sales Manager Darren Fox. “He always, always, left all he had on the track. And the human component of this story makes it all that more special. And with the addition of the ever-consistent, GI-winning Proxy to our roster, we once again have two more excellent homebreds joining us for the 2024 breeding season.”

The son of Curlin, who captured hearts through his relationship with Cody Dorman, won 11 of 16 starts and was never off of the board. His three other GI wins were in the Met Mile, Forego S. and Churchill Downs S. and the 5-year-old will retire with earnings in excess of $3 million. Cody's Wish is out of GI Frizette S. winner Dance Card, who was third in the GI Breeders' Cup F&M Sprint.

As for Proxy, he won six times over 20 starts, including victories in the GI Clark S. at Churchill Downs and a runner-up finish in the GI Santa Anita H. Yesterday in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, the 5-year-old son of Tapit rallied to secure third place.

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