Cody’s Wish is the latest Bridlewood Farm training graduate to make headlines as the Godolphin homebred defeated Cyberknife after a thrilling stretch-long duel in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland on Nov. 5. For Cody’s Wish, it was his fourth consecutive stakes victory and third graded stakes score. Prior to the Breeders’ Cup, he won the Forego (G1), the Westchester Stakes (G1), and the Hanshin Stakes.
Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, Cody’s Wish proved a determined winner of the Sprint. With pacesetter Pipeline retreating around the far turn, Gunite and Cyberknife moved toward the front with Cody’s Wish circling three-wide. Cody’s Wish forged to the front in the lane while Cyberknife fought back gamely along the inside. Those two dueled to the wire together with Cody’s Wish edging away to prevail at the wire, covering the distance in 1:35.33.
Cody’s Wish is a 4-year-old son of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Curlin out of the Tapit mare Dance Card. The victory was worth $520,000, increasing his earnings to $1,332,130 and improving his overall record to 11-7-1-3.
“I probably didn’t have the trip that I was planning,” said Junior Alvarado. “I just took my time with him. I didn’t want to rush him. By the three-eighths pole, I was getting excited, but I knew there was a lot of race left to run. He finished really well for me. When we turned for home, I knew I had the horse.”
Mott added, “That was very special. He made a huge run turning for home.”
