Charge It | Horse Racing Free Tips

Cody’s Wish Streaks Into Whitney

Cody's Wish (Curlin) will be heavily favored over five rivals to add another chapter to racing's feel-good story in Saturday's GI Whitney S. at Saratoga.

The Godolphin homebred, winner of last term's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and the stallion-making GI Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan H. at Belmont Park June 10, seeks his first career win beyond one mile in the nine-furlong Whitney, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

The 1-2 morning-line favorite, named after Cody Dorman, who was born with the rare genetic disorder Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome and is unable to walk or communicate without utilizing a tablet, is currently riding a six-race winning streak. He will exit widest of all from post six with regular rider Junior Alvarado aboard.

“We have reason to believe he could do it,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said of Cody's Wish tackling the additional distance. “He's come a long way. He was terribly green when we ran him at three in his first few races. He just didn't know whether to go forward or that sort of thing.”

Mott continued, “This is a very good horse and hopefully for our sake, he can go on. There's a great story that goes with him with Cody Dorman, so the whole scenario turns out to be very special.”

The field for the Whitney also includes: last term's GI Blue Grass S. winner Zandon (Upstart), runner-up to Cody's Wish in the Met Mile; and 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit), a last out winner of the GII Suburban S. July 8 and fourth-place finisher in the Met Mile.

Saturday's stacked 12-race program at the Spa also co-features a fantastic renewal of the GI Test S. Godolphin homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) cuts back to seven furlongs following top-shelf wins in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 5 and GI Acorn S. June 9. The rail-drawn, 9-5 morning-line favorite will face off versus unbeaten New York-bred Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic), a sharp winner of the GIII Victory Ride S. downstate July 8.

A field of nine will line up for the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational over the Mellon Turf Course, led by LSU Stable's GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel). Glen Hill Farm and Mrs. John Magnier's GI Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational S. winner Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify), cross-entered in Friday's GIII Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational, will instead take on the boys in the Saratoga Derby.

Last term's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint upsetter and GI Jaipur S. heroine Caravel (Mizzen Mast), meanwhile, will take on males once again in the GIII Troy S. on the Whitney undercard.

“She's been able to beat the boys three out of her last four and hopefully four out of her last five,” trainer Brad Cox said. “It would be exciting if she can do it again.”

Saturday's graded stakes action also includes Del Mar's GI Clement L. Hirsch, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will be represented by the imposing duo of Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) and Fun to Dream (Arrogate) in the five-horse field. Adare Manor captured her third straight win in the GII Santa Margarita S. June 10 while Fun to Dream just got tagged by a head in the GI Beholder Mile S. last time Mar. 11.

The weekend's graded stakes action rolls into Sunday with upset GIII Schuylerville S. debut winner Becky's Joker (Practical Joke) headlining a field of 10 in the GIII Adirondack S. at Saratoga; the GIII La Jolla H. at Del Mar; Mountaineer Park's GIII West Virginia Derby and GIII West Virginia Governor's S.; and Ellis Park's GIII Pucker Up S.

The post Cody’s Wish Streaks Into Whitney appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Cody’s Wish, Whitney Favorite From Outside Gate After Draw

Reigning GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner and MGISW Cody's Wish (Curlin) was installed as the 1-2 morning-line favorite and will exit from gate six after Wednesday's GI Whitney S. draw. The 96th running of the $1 million race is set for this Saturday, Aug. 5 and it offers a 'Win and You're In' berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in November.

Cody's Wish Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott said after the draw, “Every time you bring a horse over like this, you stand the risk of getting beat. There's always somebody that's an up-and-coming horse and we certainly respect all the competition. This is a very good horse and hopefully for our sake, he can go on. There's a great story that goes with him with Cody Dorman, so the whole scenario turns out to be very special.”

When asked about the outside post, Mott said, “He hasn't been a great horse in the starting gate, so it's probably not a bad thing for him to be on the outside–he doesn't have to wait around in there long. He's gotten just a little anxious in there and he gets a little strong-headed sometimes in the gate. It's better to be out there, I think.

Since this will be the first time that his horse has stretched out beyond a mile in over a year, Mott said, “We're just guessing [he can do it]. He closed well at a mile last time and galloped out nicely. I think it was a good effort for him.

Whisper Hill Farm's Charge It (Tapit), winner of the July 8 GII Suburban S. in his latest start, was installed the 5-1 third betting choice on the morning line. He will exit post 2.

According to Mandy Pope, “He's been training awesome, racing great. Todd [Pletcher] is very happy with him and it's just awesome to be here. I bought his mom [I'll Take Charge] as a yearling [for $2.2 million] and then raced her and bred her. This is her second foal. I bred her to one of my favorite stallions, Tapit. Everything has just come together so nicely.”

The general manager of Whisper Hill Farm, Todd Quast, added, “He's a typical Tapit. He's had a few issues. He's had some things go on. Right now, he's bounced out of the Suburban great. I think two turns and backing up a little bit will suit him perfect. Cody's Wish is the best around, but we need to make him work for it.”

From the rail out, the complete field for the Whitney S. with morning-line odds:

1) Zandon (Upstart) (9-2)
2) Charge It (Tapit) (5-1)
3) Giant Game (Giant's Causeway) (20-1)
4) Last Samurai (Malibu Moon) (15-1)
5) White Abarrio (Race Day) (6-1)
6) Cody' Wish (Curlin) (1-2)

The post Cody’s Wish, Whitney Favorite From Outside Gate After Draw appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Saturday’s Saratoga Notes: Cox and Pletcher Runners Headline Worktab

West Will Power (Bernardini), a last-out winner of the GI Stephen Foster S., worked five furlongs in 1:02.24 (1/4) in company with the stakes-placed Tapit Shoes (Tapit) for trainer Brad Cox over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Saturday.

West Will Power, owned and bred by Gary and Mary West, is under consideration for either next Saturday's GI Whitney S. or the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sept. 2 at the Spa.

“It's a very prestigious race. It means a lot,” Cox said of the Whitney. “We'll see how things unfold after this work and make a decision a little bit later. We'll speak with the West team and come up with a plan.”

The Cox-trained Verifying (Justify), a narrow winner of the GIII Indiana Derby, worked a half mile in :48.75 (13/53) in company with the maiden Fighting Back (Lookin At Lucky) over the Oklahoma training track.

Cox said that Verifying will point to the seven-furlong GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Aug. 26 at Saratoga.

“He went a really good half. I wasn't looking to do a whole lot with him, but he was on it,” Cox said. “He was ready to do something.”

Charge It Breezes for Whitney…

'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit), a front-running winner of the GII Suburban S. last out downstate, worked a half mile in :48.77 (28/101) Saturday morning over the main track in his final tune up for next Saturday's Whitney.

“I thought it was excellent,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He did it well in hand and looked good doing it. I've been very pleased with the way he's trained since the Suburban.”

Pletcher continued, “He's a horse that's always trained really strongly and shown hints that he's capable to run a big race. His (GIII) Dwyer was brilliant. His Suburban, I thought, was his most professional race. He's starting to put it all together consistently. It's a very tall order going up against the best older horses in training, but we're happy with the way he's coming into it.”

Pletcher added that fellow 'Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit), fifth in the GI Haskell, will target the GI Travers S. Aug. 26.

The post Saturday’s Saratoga Notes: Cox and Pletcher Runners Headline Worktab appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Saturday’s Belmont Winners Look Forward To Saratoga

Trainer Todd Pletcher appears to be in a good spot heading into the upcoming Saratoga Race Course meet after enjoying graded-stakes success Saturday at Belmont Park with both Far Bridge (English Channel) and 'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit).

LSU Stables' Far Bridge earned his first graded stakes triumph in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational. Pletcher said following the race that the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational August 5 would be, “a logical next target.”

Whisper Hill Farm's Charge It is a likely candidate for the GI Whitney S. the same day following a 4 3/4-length victory in the GII Suburban S. which garnered a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

Pletcher's Belmont-based assistant Byron Hughes reported that both horses exited their winning performances in good order.

“Both looked great this morning. They ate up last night and were walking around with a purpose this morning. They're both happy with themselves,” Hughes said.

Charge It's triumph also garnered a sense of pride from Todd Quast, the general manager of Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm.

“He ran big. We never felt like he had a problem with distance by watching him train in the morning, but he has to do it in the afternoon,” Quast said. “He can be just a little bit quirky. The talent and raw ability are both there, and he can do it in the afternoons. When he puts it all together, it's an amazing performance.”

Quast pointed out that, like Charge It, 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline also is by Tapit and out of an Indian Charlie mare.

“We'll have to see how Flightline does,” Quast said. “I'm not saying we're Flightline at all, but I think about how well received he is in the breeding shed and how good of a racehorse he was. If Charge It were to win the Whitney and then come back and be lucky enough to win the Breeders' Cup, he should be well received in the breeding shed when he does go.”

Irish shipper Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify) who captured Saturday's GI Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park, is also headed to Saratoga.

The 10-furlong test for sophomore fillies is the first leg of the Fasig-Tipton Fillies Turf Triple series, which is followed by the GIII Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational August 4 at Saratoga Race Course and concludes with the GIII Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational September 16.

“Mark Enright who came over with the filly is going to stay, and I think she'll go into Jack Sisterson's barn,” said Craig Bernick, breeder and co-owner. “But I think Mark will continue to take care of her and ride her [in the mornings]. Fozzy will stay involved, but I think she'll go into Jack's barn. We'll look at the Saratoga Oaks and we'll consider the Del Mar Oaks also. She'll go to Saratoga sometime this week.”

“My own inkling is that I'm not sure if Del Mar would suit her, but I wasn't on her back yesterday,” trainer James Stack added. “One thing that played to her strengths yesterday was stepping up in trip. Grade I's are important to fillies–the Saratoga race is worth more–if she was a gelding, we wouldn't be having this conversation!”

Trainer Melanie Giddings celebrated the first stakes win of her career Saturday with August Dawn Farm's Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic), who was named for her trainer during her tenure as an assistant trainer to the filly's original conditioner Jeremiah Englehart.

The New York-bred notched the second graded coup of her career in Saturday's GIII Victory Ride S. at Belmont and Giddings said Maple Leaf Mel returned to Saratoga Race Course Sunday morning where she will make her preparations towards an intended start in the GI TestS. on August 5 at the Spa.

“She is here and happy to be eating and to be back,” said Giddings. “The Test is the plan. She'll have a few days off like everybody after their race and we'll see how she comes out of it. We'll make sure she's happy and good and her energy is good and go from there. She's a high-energy horse, so it takes quite a bit to knock her down. She looks pretty bright-eyed this morning.”

“It's really special. When you have a horse like that and she's already won four, you just want perfection for her all the time,” Giddings added. “I expected her to run the way she did. She just thrives on running. She's the kind of horse anyone loves to have and when you're taking her over, she's going to give 110 percent.”

The post Saturday’s Belmont Winners Look Forward To Saratoga appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post