Cody’s Wish superb in capturing the Met Mile (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park (Joe Labozzetta)
Wakanaka Likely To Make Next Start at Saratoga
NYRA Press Office
ELMONT, N.Y.— Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Cody’s Wish worked a sharp half-mile in 48.48 seconds over the Oklahoma training track on Monday in his first breeze back since his dominant score in the Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 10 at Belmont Park.
“It was a nice breeze, very smooth,” said Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
The 5-year-old Curlin bay has won 9-of-13 starts, including his last six in succession with triumphs in the Grade 3 Westchester at Belmont last May, the Hanshin at Churchill Downs in July and the Grade 1 Forego in August ahead of his head score over Cyberknife in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November at Keeneland. He entered the Met Mile from a 4 3/4-length score in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day.
Cody’s Wish remains under consideration for the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney, a nine-furlong route for older horses on August 5 that offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita Park.
He tried nine furlongs at second asking in July 2021 at the Spa, finishing third in a maiden tilt, but has taken 9-of-10 starts since.
“That’s possible,” Mott said of the Whitney. “It’s [nine furlongs] always a question. He’s won his Breeders’ Cup going a two-turn-mile but he’s not won at a mile and an eighth. You never know until they do it.”
Godolphin’s reigning Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power worked a bullet three-eighths in 36.02 on June 24 over the Oklahoma training track in his first breeze back since a 1 3/4-length score in the Grade 2 True North on Belmont Stakes Day.
The 5-year-old Curlin chestnut is targeting the six-furlong Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on July 29 at the Spa.
“He worked fine. We’ll run in the Vanderbilt,” Mott said.
Mott indicated that Elite Power’s main year-end goal is likely a title defense in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November at Santa Anita.
Team Valor International and Gary Barber’s Wakanaka was nominated to Sunday’s Perfect Sting here, but Mott said he will likely find her a race at Saratoga instead.
The 5-year-old Power bay is twice Grade 1-placed in the Just a Game at Belmont, finishing second last year and third last out on June 9 after a wide trip in a race won by the freewheeling In Italian. Wakanaka, who captured the Grade 2 Dance Smartly in July at Woodbine, was steadied on the rail and finished fifth as the favorite in the Grade 3 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational in her seasonal debut on January 28 at Gulfstream Park.
“She has a come-from-behind style, so that lends itself to trouble,” Mott said.
Bred in Ireland by Mrs. Jean Brenna, Wakanaka captured the Group 3 Premio Regina Elena Italian One Thousand Guineas in April 2021 at Rome for her former conditioner Diego Dettori in her final European outing before joining Mott last January.
