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.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations be made to Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The post Cody Dorman, Inspiration Behind Cody’s Wish, Passes Away a Day After Breeders’ Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“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.

Current location: Darley America, Lexington, Ky.

The post Catching Up with 2006 Breeders’ Cup Distaff Winner Round Pond appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“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)

Lifetime record: Ch. 3yo filly, Ch. older mare, MGISW, 21-12-4-3, $3,931,440

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.

Current location: Darley America, Lexington, Ky.

The post Catching Up with 2004 Breeders’ Cup Distaff Winner Ashado appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

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.

The post Ageless Take Shuts ‘D’Or’ On Osaka Hai Rivals appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

None of those details really matter much to Cody Dorman, a 16-year-old from Richmond, Kentucky who shares a special bond with the improving son of Curlin. Cody, an avid racing fan ever since Cody's Wish came onto the scene, has been eagerly awaiting the day that his namesake would return to Kentucky so that he can see him in the starting gate once again.

Cody was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects many parts of the body. According to his father Kelly Dorman, Cody experiences frequent seizures and although he is nonverbal, he is able to communicate through a tablet. His father estimates that he has gone through between 40 and 50 surgeries, ranging from relatively minor procedures to open heart surgery.

“He's a fighter, that's for sure,” Kelly Dorman said. “But he's just like any other country boy. He loves being outside and he has always been interested in animals. He really loves fishing.”

When given a wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Cody chose to visit the Bass Pro Shop headquarters in Springfield, Missouri.

It was through the same foundation that Cody first encountered Cody's Wish, who was then just a foal at Gainsborough, when Godolphin hosted Cody and his family at their farm during Keeneland's Make-A-Wish Day in the fall of 2018.

Cody and Cody's Wish meet for the first time | photo courtesy Kelly Dorman

Danny Mulvihill, the farm manager at Gainsborough, recalls the day vividly.

“We knew Cody was in a wheelchair, but we were hopeful that we could get a foal to at least come close to Cody,” he said. “We picked this Curlin colt because at the time he was very laid back. When we pulled the foal out, he just kept inching closer and closer until he had his head in Cody's lap. You could just see Cody's eyes light up.”

“It was one of those magical moments,” Dorman explained. “I looked at Danny and told him that if this horse has half the heart that Cody has, he was going to do some great things.”

Not long after his visit to Gainsborough, Cody went through a serious complication when a blood vessel burst in his stomach. He spent Thanksgiving in the hospital and nearly went into shock, but was able to make it home in time for Christmas. When he visited Santa Claus, Cody asked for money for Christmas so that he could give it to Make-A-Wish. Through several fundraisers, he was able to raise enough money for another child to receive a wish.

The team at Godolphin had kept in touch with the Dorman family since their visit and when it came time to name the bay Curlin colt that Cody had once met, Mary Bourne, the office manager at Gainsborough, came up with Cody's Wish.

Around the time that Cody's Wish turned two, Cody lost his grandfather. Soon after, the pandemic forced the Dorman family to lock down harder and for longer than most.

“Even with everything he's been through, I would never have said that Cody was battling depression until that fall,” Dorman said. “I told my wife that we needed to do something to combat this, so we called Mary and asked about the horse. They hadn't seen each other since the first time they met.”

They arranged a meeting to see Cody's Wish, but were warned that the colt had developed into a high-strung juvenile and that they probably wouldn't be able to get too close.

Cody visits a 2-year-old Cody's Wish | Hallie Hardy

“They brought that horse out of the barn and he took my breath away,” Dorman recalled. “He turned his head and set his eyes on Cody and never took his eyes off him the whole time. He went up to Cody and let him rub his nose. Cody has a few sounds that he makes when he's happy, but I can count on one hand the times I've heard a deep belly laugh from him. As soon as that horse locked onto him, he started doing it. It was like a switch flipped. He was still a little down, but this was the spark he needed to get going.”

Cody's Wish made his debut at Belmont Park in June last year, but had a troubled trip and settled for third. Back in Kentucky, Cody insisted that he needed to be present for the race in order for the horse to make it to the winner's circle. Sure enough, Cody's Wish ran third twice more at Saratoga last summer, but broke his maiden in the fall at Churchill Downs with his namesake looking on.

“It's one of those stories that at every corner, it just seems like it was meant to be,” Mulvihill explained. “It's very hard to question that there is not some form of higher communication there, because Cody has gotten it right every time with where he says that horse will finish. For that first win at Churchill, we couldn't bring Cody into the paddock  but as they walked past, Cody's Wish stopped and locked eyes with Cody.”

As Cody's Wish claimed two allowance races at Churchill Downs that fall, Cody's bedroom began accumulating win photos, saddle towels and racing memorabilia. When it was nearly time for Cody's Wish to head south for the winter, the Dormans planned one last surprise visit to the backside at Churchill Downs as an early birthday present for Cody.

“He went to his therapy session two days before we were going to go, but he wouldn't do anything,” Dorman said. “He was throwing a fit. We got his tablet out and he asked what we were trying to hide from him. He said he didn't like surprises and needed to know if it had to do with his horse. So we finally told him because he wasn't going to do anything until he found out what was going on.”

The team at Bill Mott's barn staged a party on the backside where birthday cake was distributed to all, including to Cody's Wish.

Cody's Wish helping his namesake Cody Dorman celebrate his birthday. pic.twitter.com/rzKgRq8RCz

— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) November 20, 2021

Dorman said that Cody has predicted the outcomes of both of the 4-year-old's races this year. After a sleepless night before the GIII Challenger S. at Tampa Bay, Cody said the colt would run second. Cody's Wish lost by a neck. Cody again foretold the win in the GIII Westchester S.

Godolphin's Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said that after the Westchester, the original plan was to send Cody's Wish to the GI Metropolitan H. but a bout of fever two weeks before the race pushed back the timing of his next start. Now, their team is feeling confident going into Monday's Hanshin S.

“He's been training well and we're really happy with him,” Banahan said. “He got in a nice work last Monday in Saratoga. He's undefeated at Churchill going a one-turn mile, so he likes the track there and we're anticipating that he'll be ready to go.”

Cody is also predicting a positive outcome on Monday, when he will once again be in attendance to see Cody's Wish for the first time this year.

“I've always said that those two speak some kind of language that I can't hear or don't understand,” Dorman said. “I just enjoy watching it. Godolphin has been awesome. There aren't words to express our gratitude with the way they've treated us and Churchill Downs has done the same thing.”

Banahan explained that he believes the stars have continued to align as this story plays out.

“When Cody first came out to the farm, Danny could have introduced him to any horse and it happened to be this one,” he said. “For him to turn out to be a good racehorse was special and who knows if there was some divine intervention where we ended up being disappointed in those first three races in New York, but when he went to Churchill the family got to be there when it happened. We're just grateful that we have been able to play a small role in Cody's life and for him to get some joy out of seeing this horse run.”

Mary Bourne, who picked out the name for the colt in the beginning and now attends the races with the Dorman family, said she can hardly control her nerves whenever Cody's Wish steps into the starting gate.

“He has pulled through every time, bless his heart,” she said. “It's so special for Cody's parents to see these moments because they relish them. They don't get that every day. That first race, everyone was in tears–myself, Danny, the assistant trainer–because you see what it means to them when you're there. Nobody gets cheered for more than Cody's Wish when he's coming down the straightaway. We hope this fairytale just keeps going.”

The post Stars Align for Cody’s Wish and Namesake Cody Dorman appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Bred by Robert Sangster's Swettenham Stud, Balanchine was campaigned by Sangster during a 2-year-old campaign in which she won her two starts by a combined 10 lengths. Purchased thereafter by Sheikh Mohammed's elder brother Sheikh Maktoum, Balanchine was among the first cohort of horses wintered in Dubai by the Maktoum family, and her success in the season that followed spawned a programme within the operation that is still in place today. Beaten a short head in the G1 1000 Guineas, with the influential broodmare Coup De Genie a neck back in third, Balanchine regrouped to win the Oaks next out by 2 1/2 lengths over Deep Impact (Jpn)'s dam Wind In Her Hair (Ire) (Alzao), with Frankie Dettori aboard in the Godolphin blue. Balanchine's most memorable win, however, came three weeks later when she shipped to Ireland to take on the colts in the G1 Irish Derby. Traveling third on the inside early back in the Sheikh Maktoum silks, Balanchine moved into the two path and up to take the lead shortly before they straightened, getting first run on Sheikh Mohammed's favoured King's Theatre (Ire). That G1 Racing Post Trophy winner, who went on to beat older horses in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. next out, proved no match for the filly Balanchine, who drew clear to win by 4 1/2 lengths. That proved Balanchine's final win; she ran three times at four, her best finish being a second behind the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Carnegie (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in the G3 Prix Foy.

Frankie Dettori, who was just 23 at the time that he won two Classics aboard Balanchine, reflected on his partnership with the mare in a 2019 interview with Horse Racing Ireland.

“I was over the moon after I'd won my first Classic on her at Epsom, and I thought the next step would be the Irish Oaks,” Dettori said. “But Sheikh Maktoum and Sheikh Mohammed were never short of a challenge and they decided to race against the colts in the Irish Derby. I thought 'God, this may be a step too far.' Obviously, I was proven wrong, because she won.

“It was my only Irish Derby win, and I was only 23, so I was ecstatic and delighted, and it was a massive feat for a filly. She was a one-off. It was a bold call to make a run against the colts, and that was, I guess, the stepping stone for what Godolphin is now. She was the start.”

Balanchine's best produce was the French Group 2-placed Gulf News (Woodman). Her half-sister Red Slippers (Nureyev), however, has been an influential producer for Godolphin. She foaled the G1 Prix de Diane victress West Wind (GB) (Machiavellian) and Eastern Joy (GB) (Dubai Destination), the dam of five stakes winners headed by the dual G1 Dubai World Cup scorer Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}).

The post Classic Winner Balanchine Dies appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post