Cody’s Wish debuts ’23 in Churchill Downs Stakes

After finishing last season with four straight wins capped by a narrow win at the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keenelandfan favorite Cody’s Wish is expected to make its debut at the age of 5 on May 6 with the $750,000 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1).

The seven-distance test for older horses will be contested as the 10th race in the Kentucky Derby (G1) underdog match on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

For Cody’s Wish, the planned start date will match—closer to the date—the start of last year’s winning streak for the Godolphin breed. That period began with the son of make for curly won Westchester Stakes (G3) in 2022 on May 7. Next victory at Churchill in Hanshin Stakes goes a mile, at Racecourse Saratoga in Forego Stakes (G1) with seven stretches — his first in 1st grade, and then two miles in Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.

There will be no prep race ahead of this season’s debut as Cody’s Wish will attempt to claim a third straight win at 1st on Saturday, a task Racing Hall of Fame coach Bill Mott believes that he was well prepared.

“We had a good workout with him,” Mott said after Cody’s Wish completed four sessions at Payson Park and Churchill Downs in April. “We’ve mapped out a program and we’re only a few days away. He finished his last piece on Saturday (four works span: 49 2/5, 29 April in Churchill at Churchill). ) and we thought it was very good and before that he had some good work in Florida we left. He has an easy job here and he looks ready to go.”

Mott said connections will see how Saturday’s race plays out but Urban Handicap (G1) on Belmont Stakes (G1) cards on June 10 at Belmont Park is being considered.

Cody’s Wish is listed as a 4-5 morning favorite during Saturday’s scheduled school 11. Regular rider Junior Alvarado has a mount.

White Abarrio who by this time in 2022 finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby, having largely settled in shorter races later in the year when he finished third in the Dec 3 Cigar Handicap (G1) , go a mile at a time Aqueduct race track and will enter the sprint on Saturday with a dominant victory at the Churchill Downs Stakes in the 4 March optional claim race at Gulfstream Park.

La Milagrosa Stable’s C2 Racing Stable and White Abarrio were cross-involved in the May 5 Westchester Stakes in Belmont but coach Saffie Joseph Jr. opted to join Churchill Downs Stakes.

“Westchester is not an easy race either, and this one is number one,” Joseph said of the morning race’s third-place pick with a 6-1 scoreline. “We quite liked the look and feel of it from a speed standpoint when talking to the owner. We’re happy to roll the dice here in 1st grade.”

White Abarrio will start from the track under Paco Lopez.

Other athletes with single digit morning odds include 3rd place winner Twisted Tejano (6-1) and confirm (5-1), entrants in the back-to-back graded bets will win Gulfstream Park, most recently winning the Gulf Park Bet (G2) on March 4.