Top-ranked Cody’s Wish puts win streak on the line in the Whitney
By NY Hot List staff | Friday, August 4, 2023
Cody’s Wish, who is top ranked in the weekly NTRA thoroughbred poll, brings a six-race winning streak to the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney. The 5-year-old son of Curlin who was made the 1-2 morning line favorite will try and win at the 1 1/8 mile distance for the first time in his career.
The Bill Mott-trainee won his last four starts in Grade 1 races going back to the Forego at Saratoga and the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) around two-turns at Keeneland last year. Cody’s Wish added the Churchill Downs and the Met Mile in 2023. However, none of Cody’s Wish’s nine victories were at a distance beyond a mile.
“We have reason to believe he could do it,” said Mott. “He’s come a long way. He was terribly green when we ran him at three in his first few races. He just didn’t know whether to go forward or that sort of thing.”
The impressive move that Cody’s Wish used to win the Met Mile makes it seem like he can get the extra distance.
“Every time you bring a horse over like this, you stand the risk of getting beat,” Mott said. “There’s always somebody that’s an up and coming horse and we certainly respect all the competition. This is a very good horse and hopefully for our sake, he can go on.”
The Whitney is scheduled as race 10 out of 12 with post-time set for 5:42 p.m. EDT.
The $1 million Whitney (G1) at Saratoga, Saturday, Race 10.
(6) Cody’s Wish brings a six-race winning streak to the Whitney for Bill Mott. His pair of Grade 1 victories this year are the best of his career. His powerful move In the Met Mile (G1) makes it look like he will handle the nine-furlongs as he tries to win at that distance for the first time in his career. Although most of his wins were in one-turn races, Cody’s Wish did the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland around two turns. (1) Zandon has 10 top three finishes in his 11 race career. Although he has not won a race since the Blue Grass (G1) in 2022, he has run well in five Grade 1s which earned him $1.7 million. (2) Charge It is hard to figure out. When he is at his best he is very good as he was in the Suburban (G2) last time and in the Dwyer (G3) last year. (4) Last Samurai won a pair of Grade 2 races at Oaklawn late in the winter with stalking trips following a fourth in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) with earnings of more than $2.1 million.
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