Tag: Cody’s Wish

Cody’s Wish Among Godolphin Team Plans Outlined

Godolphin's Cody's Wish (Curlin), third in the nine-furlong GI Whitney Aug. 5 at Saratoga, is expected to return to one-turn racing this fall at the Belmont at the Big A meet, according to Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock for Godolphin.

A potential landing spot for the 5-year-old could be the seven-furlong GII Vosburgh S. for 3-year-olds Sept. 30, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Santa Anita.

Banahan indicated that the Vosburgh could also be used as a steppingstone to the GI Dirt Mile, which he won last year by a head over Cyberknife.

“We were hoping he would run better in the Whitney and it was a great opportunity to figure it out,” said Banahan. “So, we took our chance and obviously it didn't work out as well as we'd hoped for. But, he's come out of the race well and we'll regroup and try and to make him a repeat winner in the Dirt Mile. I think we'll keep him in New York and potentially run him in the Vosburgh.”

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the homebred raced beyond one mile for the first time since July 2021 in the Whitney and attempted his usual closing kick under regular pilot Junior Alvarado, but finished 10 lengths back of the victorious White Abarrio. That ended a six-race win streak that included the Dirt Mile, GI Churchill Downs S., GI Metropolitan H. and last year's GI Forego S.

A winner for Godolphin on the Whitney Day undercard in a tragedy-marred renewal of the GI Test S., Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) may mark her return in Parx Racing's GI Cotillion S. Sept. 23.

“She came out of the race very well and we found out in the race that the seven-furlong pace was a little too fast for her,” said Banahan. “She stayed on well in the race and came out of it well. Nothing is set in stone yet and we're guided by the filly, but we'll have a look at the Cotillion. It's a significant race and it's the last race at a distance for the 3-year-old fillies.”

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Pretty Mischievous cut back from a win in the one-turn 1 1/16-mile GI Acorn S. in June at Belmont and rallied strongly from four lengths off the pace in the Test to put her head down over Clearly Unhinged.

Banahan added that Godolphin plans to send out both Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) and Caramel Swirl (Union Rags) in the GI Ballerina H. Aug. 26, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Matareya, a dual Grade I-winner trained by Brad Cox, was last seen finishing third in the GIII Chicago S. at Ellis Park, while Caramel Swirl, trained by Mott, has not been seen since finishing third in the GII Bed o' Roses S. June 17 at Belmont.

“Matareya is in good shape and Brad is very happy with where she is at the moment,” said Banahan. “Caramel Swirl will probably run in there as well, so we'll see if one of them can win it.”

 

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Bobby Montano, The Star Of The Play “SMALL,” Joins The TDN Writers’ Room Podcast

Growing up in Queens, Bobby Montano eventually became an actor and a dancer, a career he was happy to follow. But before that, his path took him in an entirely different direction. Montano, who was so small as a child that he was bullied, discovered horse racing and decided he wanted to be a jockey. On March 2, 1977, his dream came true as he rode in his first race at Aqueduct. He only rode in seven races and did not have a winner, but he left the sport with a story to tell. That story has turned into the Off-Broadway play “SMALL,” which Montano wrote and stars in. It's coming to New York and the 59 E. 59 Theater on Aug. 12 and will run through Sept. 2.

In advance of SMALL's run in New York, Montano joined the TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland to talk about the play and what has been a fascinating life full of ups and downs. Montano was the Green Group Guest of the Week.

Looking at those jockeys riding in New York, he saw people who were as small as he was, but instead of being bullied they were respected athletes, admired by thousands of racing fans. That's what he wanted for himself.

“I was tired of getting picked on,” he said. “But when I saw these little men coming out into the paddock area I saw that they were getting respect. It would get quiet and I would ask my mother what was happening and she said, 'The jockeys have come. That's called respect.' I was just so in love with the whole pageantry of it all. My mother was there to bet on her jockey friend Roberto Pineda. He reminded me of Bruce Lee and I was a huge fan of Bruce Lee.”

Nothing ever came easily for Montano on the racetrack. After a growth spurt, he became too big to be a jockey and his weight was the reason why he couldn't get any mounts. He rode for just five months. He resorted to using laxatives, amphetamines, cocaine and pills called Black Beauties. He would run 17 miles a day.

“I couldn't get there. I was just getting bigger and bigger, and I just didn't know what to do with my life,” he said.

Yet, Montano said he wouldn't trade his time on the racetrack for anything.

“I would do it again in a heartbeat,” he said. “There are people who have made it work. I look at people like Trevor McCarthy, who I love. He's a wonderful rider and he's five-foot-ten. There were others, like Marco Castaneda. But they all had thin bones. I was born with thick bones. I just was fighting Mother Nature and there was just nothing I could do about it.”

After giving up on his dream to be a jockey, Montano saw Saturday Night Fever, went to the famous disco, the Rafters and discovered the world of dancing and acting. On television, he has appeared as one of Kim Cattrell's lovers, “We William,” in Sex In The City. He has guest starred in, CSI: Miami, Third Watch, Six Degrees, Law & Order, New York Undercover, Law & Order: SVU, Harrison – Cry Of The City, numerous soaps, and as Resto in the HBO film Undefeated, directed by John Leguizamo.

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored byhttps://coolmore.com/https://lanesend.com/ the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, NYRABets.com, WinStar Farm, XBTV.com, Stonestreet Farms and https://www.threechimneys.com/ West Point Thoroughbreds, the team of Bill Finley, Randy Moss and Zoe Cadman discussed the tragic breakdown of Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic) in the GI Test S. Like virtually everyone else in racing, the team tried to come up with answers to what is a horrible problem for the sport but admitted that they had none. The GI Whitney S. was a major topic of discussion, from the huge performance by winner White Abarrio (Race Day) to the lackluster third-place finish by Cody's Wish (Curlin). Looking ahead at the weekend, the focus was on the GI Arlington Million and the other stakes formerly run at Arlington Park that will be run at Colonial Downs. Finley said the Million has lost its mojo since Arlington has closed and said it may be time to simply discontinue these races.

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

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Vindictive to Stand at Pegasus Stud in New Jersey

Vindictive (Uncle Mo–Exotic Bloom, by Montbrook), a close second in last spring's GIII Pimlico Special S., has been retired and will stand his first season at stud in 2024 at the Spinella Family's Pegasus Stud in New Jersey.

The $200,000 KEESEP yearling purchase and half-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat) was campaigned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, LLC and LNJ Foxwoods and trained by Todd Pletcher. He retires with a record of 8-4-1-1 and earnings of $300,960.

“Vindictive is an impressive physical specimen who has both performance and pedigree on his resume,” said Alex Solis, II of the Solis/Litt Bloodstock Agency. “His four victories from eight starts came in New York against top competition, including a decisive win over Cody's Wish (in a maiden special weight at Saratoga). Vindictive comes from the esteemed Uncle Mo line, known for producing exceptional sires, and he's a half-brother to the champion Stopchargingmaria.”

Pletcher described Vindictive as “a typical Uncle Mo offspring with great size, mental competitiveness, and definite Grade I stakes-winning ability.”

“Vindictive was a talented racehorse posting five single-digit Ragozin Sheets numbers in eight career starts,” said Rick Sacco, who purchased Vindictive for stallion duties. “He's a stunning, big, and athletic horse by one of the country's best stallions in Uncle Mo.”

“The female side of the pedigree is equally powerful,” added Sacco. “His dam, Exotic Bloom, was a stakes winner and she has produced a champion. Vindictive is a serious addition to the Pegasus Stud stallion operation and to the state of New Jersey breeding program in general.”

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White Abarrio Dominates Whitney for Richard Dutrow Jr. Barn

White Abarrio (c, 4, Race Day–Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief), making his second start for conditioner Richard Dutrow Jr., dominated the field by open lengths in the GI Whitney S. at 10-1 odds, and has secured his spot in the gate for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Zandon (Upstart) held on for second while Cody's Wish (Curlin) won the photo for third. The final time was 1:48.45.

Sales history: $7,500 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $40,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR. O-C Two Racing Stable and Antonio Pagnano; B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Richard Dutrow, Jr.

 

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