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.
John Ferguson acquired Round Pond on behalf of Darley for $5.75 million at Fasig-Tipton's fall sale in 2007. The elegant bay produced two stakes winners for the Darley/Godolphin banner–MSW & GISP Long River (A.P. Indy) and SW & GSP Lake Lucerne (Dubawi {Ire})–while an unraced daughter produced 2022 GI Carter H. winner Speaker's Corner. The latter, a Godolphin homebred by home stallion Street Sense, stood his first season in the Darley stud barn alongside his sire this year.
“Round Pond is a sweet girl,” said Darley's Gainsborough division farm manager Danny Mulvihill, “but is pretty low on the totem pole. She will come for food but likes to play hard to catch! I am sure I have heard her 'laughing' as she runs away from you. She tends to be happy with her own company and doesn't need a whole lot of attention. She is another fan favorite when the tours come through.”
Round Pond (2002 bay mare, Awesome Again–Gift of Dance, by Trempolino)
Lifetime record: MGISW, 13-7-2-3, $1,998,700
Breeders' Cup connections: B-Trudy McCaffery & John Toffan (KY); O-Fox Hill Farms, Inc.; T-Michael Matz; J-Edgar Prado.
Ashado's Breeders' Cup win in 2004 was sandwiched by placings both the year prior and the year after. The grand mare's 11 black-type wins included seven Grade Is, ranging from the Spinaway at two to the Kentucky Oaks at three and the Ogden Phipps at four. No wonder John Ferguson went to $9 million–then a world record–for her at the 2005 Keeneland November sale on behalf of Darley. Her final foal, a Bernardini yearling, is a full-brother to her stakes winner Westwood.
“She is the dominant mare in her retired group,” said Danny Mulvihill, farm manager at Darley's Gainsborough division. “No matter who is added to the group, she remains 'Top Dog'. With that being said, she is very easy to deal with and is a sweetheart but will let you know when she is not happy about something. She loves attention and is extremely food driven! She is definitely an easy keeper. She was a great mom to all of her babies and is now enjoying a happy retirement. She is, of course, one of the fan favorites when the tours come through.”
Ashado (2001 dark bay or brown mare, Saint Ballado–Goulash, by Mari's Book)
Breeders' Cup connections: B-Aaron U. Jones & Marie D. Jones (KY); O-Starlight Stable LLC, Paul Saylor, and Johns Martin; T-Todd Pletcher; J-John Velazquez.
Having celebrated his 54th birthday less than three weeks ago, Yutaka Take became the oldest jockey in the history of the Japanese turf to win at Group 1 level after putting a well-rationed ride aboard second favourite Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) at Hanshin Racecourse. Reigning champion 3-year-old filly Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) found no luck in running for a second straight race and fell just short, while Danon the Kid (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) checked in a close third.
The expected pacesetter from gate nine, the flashy chestnut hit the ground running and led from the outposted North the World (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), as two-time Classic winner Stars on Earth was involved in a bit of a chain reaction at the break that saw her exchange bumps with Killer Ability (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), relegating her to a position towards the rear. Allowed to bowl along, as is his wont, Jack d'Or covered the opening 800 metres in :47.5 seconds, but really picked up the pace from there, clocking an internal half-mile in :46 flat from the 1200m to the 400m while still racing well within himself.
Firmly on top as they hit the Hanshin straight, Jack d'Or continued to find even as Danon the Kid–who had sat a perfect trip one out and one back–came to challenge at the furlong grounds. But under vigorous urging from Take, Jack d'Or kept on doggedly to prevail by the minimum margin. Stars on Earth, on hold on the turn, raced in traffic in the final 300 metres, but charged through between a tiring Hishi Iguazu (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and third choice Weltreisende (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) and rattled home to just fail. She covered her final three furlongs in a race-fastest :34.4 while making her first start since a troubled second in the G1 Shuka Sho when attempting a sweep of the Filly Triple Crown last October. Danon the Kid, who came in on and bothered Killer Ability at the start, held for third.
“I was hoping to take the front if we could get a good start,” said Take, commonly referred to as 'Legend'. “He was a bit keen to go in the first two corners, but raced in good rhythm thereafter. I think it was tough for him because of the headwind in the straight, but I had a feeling that we were able to hold off the chasing horses when we crossed the wire.”
It was an 80th career Group 1 for Take, and, reflecting on that achievement, he said: “I owe it to all the many great horses I was able to ride, and I will do my best to extend this record even further.”
A well-backed fifth in this race last year, Jack d'Or–whose 14 career starts have all come over 10 furlongs–outgamed future G1 Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G2 Sapporo Kinen last August before finishing a close fourth to Horse of the Year and recent G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic hero Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) in October. With Take at the controls for the first time, Jack d'Or was a lacklustre seventh in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup when last seen Dec. 11.
Pedigree Notes:
Jack d'Or, purchased for just over $320,000 at the 2019 Hokkaido Selected Yearling Sale, is the fifth top-level winner worldwide for his sire and his third in Japan (Geraldina {Jpn}, a sneaky-good sixth Sunday and top sprinter Pixie Knight {Jpn}). Maurice is also the sire of Hitotsu (Aus) and Mazu (Aus) from his shuttle missions to Arrowfield Stud in Australia. Jack d'Or is the 31st Group 1/Grade I winner out of a daughter of Unbridled's Song, who has also been responsible for Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) and additional G1SWs Danon Platina (Jpn), Suave Richard (Jpn) and Toho Jackal (Jpn) in Japan.
Bred and raced by Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum's Gainsborough Farm, Ravarino is a daughter of Sous Entendu, trained for Gainsborough by Criquette Head to a third-place effort in the 1990 G3 Prix de la Grotte who would go on to produce the listed-winning and G2 Dante S. third Slip Stream (Irish River {Fr}) as well as dual US graded winner Porte Bonheur (Hennessy). Jack d'Or's third dam was the champion 2-year-old filly of 1978 in America and the deeper family includes globetrotting multi-jurisdiction Group 1/Grade I winner State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}); multiple Group 1/Grade I winner Storming Home (GB) (Machiavellian); G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}); and five-time Grade I winner Music Note (A.P. Indy), the dam of 'TDN Rising Star', G1 Dubai World Cup winner and Darley America stallion Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper).
Ravarino is represented by the once-raced 3-year-old colt Crown Romagna (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), the 2-year-old filly Marino El Dorado (Jpn) (Rey de Oro {Jpn}) and a yearling full-sister to Jack d'Or. The mare, whose last seven foals have been chestnut in colour, is due once again to Maurice for her 2023 produce.
Sunday, Hanshin, Japan OSAKA HAI-G1, ¥384,860,000, Hanshin, 4-2, 4yo/up, 2000mT, 1:57.40, fm.
1–JACK D'OR (JPN), 128, h, 5, by Maurice (Jpn) 1st Dam: Ravarino, by Unbridled's Song 2nd Dam: Sous Entendu, by Shadeed 3rd Dam: It's in the Air, by Mr. Prospector 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥34,560,000 Ylg '19 HOKSEL). O-Toshiyuki Maehara; B-Crown Hidaka Farm; T-Kenichi Fujioka; J-Yutaka Take; ¥203,402,000. Lifetime Record: 14-8-2-0, ¥675,444,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+ (1 SW). Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com pedigree.
2–Stars on Earth (Jpn), 123, f, 4, Duramente (Jpn)–Southern Stars (GB), by Smart Strike. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm; ¥80,972,000.
3–Danon the Kid (Jpn), 128, h, 5, Just a Way (Jpn)–Epic Love (Ire), by Dansili (GB). (¥100,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Danox Inc; B-Northern Farm; ¥ 50,486,000.
Margins: NO, NK, 2. Odds: 2.60, 2.40, 31.80.
Also Ran: Matenro Leo (Jpn), Maria Elena (Jpn), Geraldina (Jpn), Hishi Iguazu (Jpn), North Bridge (Jpn), Weltreisende (Jpn), Potager (Jpn), Lagulf (Jpn), Moze Bello (Jpn), Killer Ability (Jpn), Wonderful Town (Jpn), North the World (Jpn), Hindu Times (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart.
