Cody's Wish | Horse Racing Free Tips

Voting Now Open for 2022 Secretariat ‘Vox Populi’ Award

Online voting is now open to select the winner of the 13th annual Secretariat Vox Populi Award. Created by Secretariat's late owner Penny Chenery, the Vox Populi, or “Voice of the People” award recognizes the racehorse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the public and gained recognition for the sport during the past year.

Fans can vote in the online poll at Secretariat.com for one of three nominees selected by the Vox Populi Committee. Voters also have the option to write in a racehorse of their choice. The poll is open now through Nov. 30, with the winning recipient to be announced live on the FanDuel TV network Dec. 4. The Vox Populi trophy presentation is scheduled to take place at Santa Anita Park Jan. 14.

The 2022 nominees are: Cody's Wish (Curlin), the talented 4-year-old colt whose win in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile was his fourth in five starts this year, and who shares a heart-warming and celebrated bond with his namesake, Cody Dorman; Flightline (Tapit), the spectacular 4-year-old colt whose electrifying performances winning the GI Metropolitan Mile, the GI Pacific Classic by 19 1/4 lengths and the GI Breeders' Cup Classic capped off an undefeated season and an unprecedented racing career; and Rich Strike (Keen Ice), the 3-year-old colt and sensational 80-1 longshot winner of the GI Kentucky Derby whose rags-to-riches story and unheralded connections sparked hope for underdogs everywhere.

“All three of these nominees are definitely talented athletes in their own individual ways as well as fan favorites that have brought heart-warming stories and interest to the sport,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, family historian and daughter of Penny Chenery. “Fan engagement is the name of the game–and that was Mom's vision for the Vox Populi Award and any of these horses would be a worthy recipient.”

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Cody Makes Many Wishes Come True in Dirt Mile

LEXINGTON, KY–Godolphin homebred Cody's Wish (Curlin) made quite a few wishes come true beneath cloudy skies Saturday when rallying from well back and edging MGISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner) to take the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland.

The colt was named for 16-year-old Cody Dorman, who met the bay when he was just a foal at Gainsborough as part of Keeneland's Make-a-Wish day. Cody's Wish put his head in the young boy's lap, making an instant connection, and his story has touched many in the racing world. Dorman and his family were on hand all week ready to root his namesake on. Click here to read about both Codys.

“That was very special,” said trainer Bill Mott. “There's a big story behind it. Goes to show that the Make A Wish Foundation can make it very special for someone. The performance was awesome. He made a huge run turning for home.”

Favored at 2-1 off a win in the GI Forego S., Cody's Wish was unhurried early, caboosing the field as Pipeline (Speightstown) blitzed through a :22.20 first quarter with Gunite (Gun Runner) in tow and Cyberknife keeping close watch from a two-wide fourth. Cyberknife moved first as the half went in :45.71, but Cody's Wish had been popped the question as well by Junior Alvarado and began to make rapid progress up the outside. Gunite inherited the lead entering the bend with Cyberknife breathing down his neck and Cody's Wish charging up to confront them. They entered the lane three abreast and Gunite quickly waved the white flag, leaving the top two to battle it out. And they did indeed. The colts went stride-for-stride down the lane with Cody's Wish edging his younger foe late for a storybook ending to the Dirt Mile.

Longshot Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) rounded out the trifecta with Gunite holding fourth. Slow Down Andy's rider Mario Gutierrez claimed foul against Cyberknife for interference in the stretch, but the stewards left the result as is after an inquiry.

“I probably didn't have the trip that I was planning,” said an exuberant Junior Alvarado, who is a first-time Breeders' Cup winner. “He didn't break great, so I just took my time with him. I didn't want to rush him. He's a horse that can get a little rank. I took it little by little. By the 3/8th pole I was getting excited, but I knew there was a lot of race left to run. He finished up really well for me. When we turned for home, I knew I had the horse.”

A three-time winner during his 2021 campaign, Cody's Wish kicked off 2022 with a neck second in Tampa's GIII Challenger S. Mar. 12 and romped by five lengths next out in the one-mile GIII Westchester S. in the slop at Belmont May 7. Scoring by a neck next out over the re-opposing Three Technique (Mr Speaker) in Churchill's Hanshin S. July 4, the homebred came running late to take down champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) in Saratoga's Forego Aug. 27, earning a gaudy 112 Beyer Speed Figure.

Pedigree Notes:

Cody's Wish became the third Breeders' Cup winner for the mighty Curlin, following GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Vino Rosso and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile scorer Good Magic and later added two more winners. While Tapit has sired several Breeders' Cup winners, this is his first as a broodmare sire. Godolphin went to $750,000 to acquire his dam Dance Card (Tapit) and the 2011 FTFFEB sale. She captured the GI Gazelle S. and was third in her trip to the Breeders' Cup in 2013 for the GI BC F/M Sprint S. Prior to Cody's Wish, she produced MGSP Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro) and SP Bocephus (Medaglia d'Oro). Her recent produce includes a yearling colt by Into Mischief and a weanling filly by Street Sense. She was bred to Gun Runner this year.

Saturday, Keeneland
BIG ASS FANS BREEDERS' CUP DIRT MILE-GI, $910,000, Keeneland, 11-5, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:35.33, ft.
1–CODY'S WISH, 126, c, 4, 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.
$520,000. Lifetime Record: 11-7-1-3, $1,332,130. *1/2 to
Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), MGSP, $713,903. Werk Nick
Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Cyberknife, 123, c, 3, Gun Runner–Awesome Flower, by
Flower Alley. ($400,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Gold Square LLC;
B-Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $170,000.
3–Slow Down Andy, 123, c, 3, Nyquist–Edwina E, by
Square Eddie. O/B-Reddam Racing, LLC (CA); T-Doug F. O'Neill.
$90,000.
Margins: HD, 1 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.16, 3.26, 17.62.
Also Ran: Gunite, Law Professor, Three Technique, Simplification, Senor Buscador, Pipeline. Scratched: Informative, Laurel River.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Unbeaten Flightline Tabbed as 3-5 Favorite for Breeders’ Cup Classic

LEXINGTON, KY — With University of Kentucky men's basketball head coach John Calipari pulling the pills, unbeaten superstar Flightline (Tapit) drew post four for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic to a round of applause during Monday's Rood & Riddle Post Position Draw held at the home of the Wildcats at Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington.

The 3-5 morning-line favorite will meet seven rivals in the $6-million centerpiece at Keeneland, including the talented Life Is Good (Into Mischief) (post two) and top 3-year-olds Epicenter (Not This Time) (post six), Taiba (Gun Runner) (post one) and Rich Strike (Keen Ice) (post eight).

“Good draw,” trainer John Sadler said of the runaway GI Pacific Classic winner. “We would've been happy with any draw. We think at 1 1/4 miles you have a good run into the turn to get your position. So, for him, it's just fine.”

Seven returning or former Breeders' Cup winners were entered for the two-day Championships: Aloha West (Hard Spun) (Sprint), Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) (F/M Sprint), Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) (F/M Sprint), Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) (Turf Sprint), Life Is Good (Classic), Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (Mile); and Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) (Mile).

The GI Breeders' Cup Distaff will be one of the more highly anticipated races of the weekend, led by the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of champion Malathaat (Curlin) and leading 3-year-old filly Nest (Curlin). The latter was tabbed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite.

“We're blessed to have both of them,” Pletcher said. “It's a contentious field. There are some other really good fillies in there. It's certainly not a match race between the stablemates.”

Champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), a disappointing sixth as the favorite in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, is the clear cut one to beat in Saturday's renewal. The Sprint lost one of its major players with the defection of star 3-year-old Jack Christopher (Munnings). Expected to go off as the favorite in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he was scratched by the track veterinarians the day prior to the race.

“It was a difficult decision, but it's my understanding that the veterinary teams in charge of clearing horses to participate are likely to scratch the horse on or before race day primarily based on the way he moves,” trainer Chad Brown told Daily Racing Form.

Morning-line favorites for Championship Saturday's races: Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (F/M Sprint) (3-1); Golden Pal (Turf Sprint) (2-1); Cody's Wish (Curlin) (Dirt Mile) (5-2); Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (F/M Turf) (5-2); Jackie's Warrior (Sprint) (4-5); Modern Games (Ire) (Mile) (7-2); Nest (Distaff) (9-5); Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (Turf) (3-1); and Flightline (Classic) (3-5).

Morning-line favorites on the 'Future Stars Friday' program: The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) (7-2); Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) (Juvenile Fillies) (7-2); Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) (4-1); Cave Rock (Arrogate) (Juvenile) (4-5); and Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) (Juvenile Turf) (3-1).

The Breeders' Cup will be televised live domestically on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV.

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Cody’s Wish Runs Down Jackie’s Warrior in Forego

Previously unbeaten at Saratoga and for the season, champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) became the latest victim of the “Graveyard of Champions” Saturday when run down late by the ever-improving Cody's Wish (Curlin).

The 1-9 favorite hustled up to dictate terms and was pressed by longshot Pipeline (Speightstown) through a :22.75 opening quarter and :45.10 half-mile while 8-1 shot Cody's Wish raced in a joint last. Jackie's Warrior turned for home in front with a stubborn Pipeline breathing down his neck and Cody's Wish winding up out in the center of the track. Jackie's Warrior shook loose as three quarters went up in 1:08.76 and appeared home free. However, Cody's Wish was just hitting his best stride and swept by the favorite just a few steps from the wire to spring the upset by 1 1/4 lengths. Pipeline held on for third.

“I really thought the style of this race would suit this horse. I was glad to see somebody going with [Jackie's Warrior], for sure,” said winning trainer Bill Mott, who also trained fourth-place finisher Baby Yoda (Prospective). “I didn't think it was going to be either of mine. I thought both of ours were going to settle back. I didn't know whether we were going to be laying second, third or fourth, and actually Cody's Wish was back a little further. I thought he'd be a little closer to the pace early, but as it turned out it was good that somebody entertained Jackie's Warrior a little bit. When he cut the corner at the three-eighths pole, I saw him moving. I know when he starts moving, he keeps moving.”

“When we turned for home and I saw Jackie's Warrior didn't take off, at that point we're taking a good shot at it, and right by the eighth pole I had a good feeling at that point,” said winning rider Junior Alvarado. “I still never underestimated Jackie's Warrior, but by the eighth-pole I definitely was all out and I knew it was going to happen today.”

Graduating at fourth asking at Churchill in October, Cody's Wish followed suit with a pair of allowance wins beneath the Twin Spires in November. Missing by a neck in Tampa's GIII Challenger S. Mar. 12, the homebred romped in Belmont's GIII Westchester S. in the slop May 7, running a 104 Beyer Speed Figure. He entered this off a win in Churchill's Hanshin S. July 4.

Pedigree Notes:

Cody's Wish is the 19th Grade I winner for his legendary sire Curlin. Sheikh Mohammed's operation purchased the winner's Grade I-winning dam Dance Card for $750,000 as a 2-year-old at the FTKFEB sale. All three of her foals to race are black-type runners with the other two being MGSP Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro) and SP Bocephus (Medaglia d'Oro). Her recent produce includes a yearling colt by Into Mischief and a 2022 filly by Street Sense. The 13-year-old mare was bred back to Gun Runner.

Saturday, Saratoga
FOREGO S.-GI, $589,000, Saratoga, 8-27, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:20.95, ft.
1–CODY'S WISH, 120, c, 4, 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
1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $320,000. Lifetime Record: 10-6-1-3, $812,130. *1/2 to Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), MGSP, $676,544. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Jackie's Warrior, 124, c, 4, Maclean's Music–Unicorn Girl, by A. P. Five Hundred. ($95,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-J. Kirk and Judy Robison; B-J & J Stables (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $112,000.
3–Pipeline, 118, c, 4, Speightstown–Vivo Per Lei, by Empire Maker. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services; B-Eurowest Bloodstock Services LTD. (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2 1/4, 6. Odds: 8.00, 0.15, 15.50.
Also Ran: Baby Yoda, Drafted, Three Two Zone, Kneedeepinsnow.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPshttp://www.equineline.com/tdn/pedigree.cfm?tk=SAR&cy=USA&rd=09/07/2015&rn=9&de=D &ref=9104432. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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