Churchill Downs Stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Cody’s Wish Picks Up Right Where He Left Off

Making his first start since taking out last year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Cody's Wish (Curlin) became the third Grade I winner of the weekend for Godolphin–each for a different trainer–with a worst-to-first victory in Saturday's GI Churchill Downs S. He completed a sweep of the day's seven-furlong events after Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) caused a minor upset in the Derby City Distaff and was adding to the wide-trip success of 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) in Friday's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks.

Back markers had been facing an uphill battle on Saturday's program beneath the Twin Spires, and Cody's Wish found himself at the tail of the field through the opening exchanges as Here Mi Song (Cross Traffic) slid up the fence and set the pace–albeit a modest :22.70 for the opening quarter-mile–in advance of fellow longshot Hoist The Gold (Mineshaft). Slipped a bit of rein by Junior Alvarado with just under four furlongs to race, Cody's Wish began to catch the eye, as he effortlessly rolled up three or four wide outside of Tejano Twist (Practical Joke) midway on the turn and was in full stride when heads were turned for home. Roused left-handed with three-sixteenths of a mile to travel, Cody's Wish inhaled Hoist The Gold before the eighth pole and shot clear to take his current winning streak to five. Tejano Twist closed off well to finish third. Here Mi Song finished fourth and was vanned off, according to the chart, but X-rays proved negative.

“With this horse winning, it's really way more than a horse race,” said Bill Mott, winning his first Grade I at Churchill since Country House (Lookin At Lucky) was put up in the Derby four years ago. “For us, I mean, Cody Dorman, and Cody's Wish, make it something special. When this horse came back after the race, and hearing the crowd, they were going crazy up there, more than they normally cheer for any other race. And the horse is just so great. He's been showing up every time. He's been off since the Breeders' Cup, but it sure looked like he was ready today.

“I get choked up easily, but when he was walking over, my assistant Kenny said he paused, and he looked, and said it was almost like there is a connection there. Usually we don't see that in horses. For whatever reason, the horse knows something is special.”

Pedigree Notes:

Cody's Wish's dam, a $67,000 graduate of the 2010 Keeneland September Sale, was purchased by John Ferguson on behalf of Godolphin for $750,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale a handful of months later, and it proved a shrewd buy, as Dance Card won the 2012 GI Gazelle H. and was third to Groupie Doll (Bowman's Band) in the 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint before retiring to stud. A half-brother to MGSW Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), eighth in Saturday's race, Cody's Wish is kin to the 2-year-old colt Hunt Ball (Into Mischief) and a yearling filly by 2007 GI Kentucky Derby hero Street Sense. Dance Card was most recently bred to Gun Runner.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHURCHILL DOWNS S. PRESENTED BY FORD-GI, $750,000, Churchill Downs, 5-6, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:21.17, ft.
1–CODY'S WISH, 123, h, 5, 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
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado.
$446,400. Lifetime Record: 12-8-1-3, $1,778,530. *1/2 to
Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), MGSW, $964,133.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hoist the Gold, 123, c, 4, Mineshaft–Tacit Approval, by Tapit.
($47,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Dream Team One Racing
Stable; B-Dream Team Racing (KY); T-Dallas Stewart. $144,000.
3–Tejano Twist, 123, g, 4, Practical Joke–Haley's Lolipop, by
Cuvee. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-JD Thoroughbreds LLC and
Davis, Joey Keith; B-Tom Durant (KY); T-Chris A. Hartman.
$72,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, HF, 3/4. Odds: 0.72, 10.10, 11.72.
Also Ran: Here Mi Song, Sir Alfred James, Get Her Number, Steal Sunshine, Endorsed, Fortin Hill. Scratched: C Z Rocket, White Abarrio. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Flagstaff Determined Winner In Breathtaking Churchill Downs Stakes Finish

The Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard had one of those finishes that made one observer remark that it was a shame anyone had to walk away the loser. With a few strides left, six horses blanketed the width of the dirt track, and in another few steps, three were separated by a few inches, but it was Flagstaff who would emerge the victor.

Jockey Luis Saez hustled the gelding strongly out of the gate and he was initially part of a blazing battle for the early lead alongside Get The Prize, Tap It To Win, Lexitonian, and Basin. Halfway through the backstretch he dropped back behind those and would have seemed poised to begin reversing through the rest of the field in the remaining furlongs. Instead, Saez regrouped and made a wide move on the turn, sweeping into at least the five path to circle the field.

Flagstaff was one of a flurry of horses in contention through the final furlong, from the pacesetters and stalkers trying to hang on to late closers. He briefly held the lead but was challenged by closers. At the wire, Whitmore was to his outside and Lexitonian to his inside as Flagstaff lengthened his stride just enough to stretch his neck out at the right moment and win by a head.

Lexitonian was second, followed by Whitmore and Hog Creek Hustle. The final time was 1:21.82 after early fractions of :21.97, :44.21 and 1:08.04.

John Sadler trains Flagstaff for owners Lane's End Racing and Hronis Racing. The 7-year-old came to this race off a decisive win in the G3 Commonwealth at Keeneland in early April. This is his first Grade 1 win, and he also won the G2 San Carlos at Santa Anita last year.

Flagstaff was bred in Kentucky by Summer Wind Farm and is the son of Speightstown and Indyan Giving, who is by A.P. Indy. He was sold for $475,000 as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Lane's End and bought by Mayberry Farm.

Flagstaff went off at odds of 9-2 and paid $11.80 to win. Favored Tap It To Win finished second last. See the full chart here.

CHURCHILL DOWNS QUOTES, courtesy Churchill Downs press office

Luis Saez (Jockey, Flagstaff, winner) – “Getting settled off the pace was the key; they were going pretty fast up front. I tried to save ground into the turn and when there was a moment to go out so I had that good spot he came for me. I know Whitmore is a good horse but my horse really dug in. When I saw everybody coming past me I thought it was over but he never gave up and finally he gave me the last little bit and we got there. John told me to ride him with confidence and that he likes to fight and we broke and then you saw that at the end.”

John Sadler (Trainer, Flagstaff, winner) – “I'm thrilled. He's a real hard knocker; he always runs his race. He knocked it out today.”

Tyler Gaffalione (Jockey, Lexitonian, runner-up) – “He's a hard-trying horse. He's got a lot of natural speed and I just let him run his race. He fought hard to the wire. He gave me a good feeling at the eighth pole but we just didn't have enough today.”

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With Murky Pace Scenario, Churchill Downs Stakes Looks Wide Open

It's not often you come across a 13-horse Grade I sprint with no confirmed frontrunner, but the Churchill Downs S. Saturday is just that, with only lightly raced 20-1 shot Get the Prize (Candy Ride {Arg}) having gotten the first call last out. Stalker Flagstaff (Speightstown) gets the tepid 3-1 nod on the morning line coming off a victory over three of these foes in Keeneland's GIII Commonwealth S. going the same distance Apr. 3. He shipped into Oaklawn after that to fire a pair of quick bullet breezes, and he probably has the speed to lead if aggressive rider Luis Saez decides to go for it.

One who will need a set-up is ageless fan favorite Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect). Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner is likely better at six furlongs than seven, and was fourth here in 2018 and fifth in 2019. He enters off back-to-back runner-up finishes in Oaklawn's Mar. 13 Hot Springs S. and Apr. 10 GIII Count Fleet Sprint H.

Phat Man (Munnings) owns the field's best last-out Beyer Speed Figure of 103, which was earned when defeating Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro) in a Gulfstream optional claimer Mar. 28.

MGISW Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) was second to divisional leader Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief) in the GI Carter H. at Aqueduct Apr. 3, while Grade I-winning juvenile Basin (Liam's Map) returned to winning ways in the Sir Shackleton S. in Hallandale Mar. 27. Tapit to Win (Tapit), who possesses tactical speed, may be among the most intriguing contenders at a price. Last year's GI H. Allen Jerkens S. Presented by Runhappy runner-up and GII Pat Day Mile third finisher was sharp in a state-bred stakes tally at Tampa Mar. 28.

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