Photo of Cody’s Wish by Courtney Snow for Past The Wire
Win gives a real once-in-a-lifetime wish to Cody Dorman
Beeders’ Cup Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Godolphin’s homebred Cody’s Wish ($6.32) turned back Cyberknife by a head after a stretch-long duel to win the 16th running of the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.
Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, Cody’s Wish completed the mile on a fast track in 1:35.33. It is the 11th Breeders’ Cup victory for Mott and first in the Dirt Mile and Alvarado’s first World Championships victory.
Pipeline led the field of nine through early fractions of :22.28 and :45.71 with Gunite in closest pursuit and Cyberknife just off the leaders while racing on the outside.
On the far turn, Pipeline began to drop back putting Gunite in charge only to have Cyberknife appear right at his flank with favored Cody’s Wish circling three wide. Cody’s Wish took the lead at the head of the lane only to have Cyberknife fight back on even terms to deep stretch when Cody’s Wish edged away.
Slow Down Andy finished third, 1 ¾ lengths behind Cyberknife with Gunite another 2 ¼ lengths back in fourth.
Cody’s Wish is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin out of the Tapit mare Dance Card. The victory was worth $520,000 and increased his earnings to 1,332,130 with a record of 11-7-1-3.
Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Quotes
Winning Trainer Bill Mott (Cody’s Wish): “That was very special. 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.”
Winning Jockey Junior Alvarado (Cody’s Wish): “I probably didn’t have the trip that I was planning. 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.
“I’ve been hearing the stories about (Cody). First time I got to meet him was at Churchill when I won with him, and I remember going into the Winner’s Circle and all he wanted to do was walk forward to where Cody was. We tried to get the winner’s circle photo and he was getting upset until Cody got into the photo. They have an unbelievable bond.”
Second-place Trainer Brad Cox (Cyberknife): “He ran good, just second best. He ran great. No excuse. Florent (Geroux) gave him a perfect trip, just came up a little bit short, bottom line.”
Second-place Jockey Florent Geroux (Cyberknife): “The trouble was on the first turn, had nothing to do with us. I had a great trip, the pace was just as I thought it would be. I was making my move nicely and I thought I had it. He was reaching out just at the finish and trying really hard. The other horse was fighting hard and my horse fought just as hard. I loved being in the two path. I really thought we had it.”
Third-place Trainer Doug O’Neill (Slow Down Andy): “He ran huge. Mario did a great job and got after him and got position. He was sitting in a perfect spot and didn’t have the cleanest trip – a little traffic – but he ran a really big race.”
Third-place Jockey Mario Gutierrez (Slow Down Andy): “The number 3 (Pipeline) pinned me down a little bit early in the race and I think it cost me a bit. The winner and the second-place horse ran really tough, so I think I was third best today. He ran really good.”
