Cody's Wish Turns Back Three Technique in Hanshin
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Photo: Coady Photography
Cody's Wish prevails over Three Technique in the Hanshin Stakes at Churchill Downs
Godolphin's regally-bred Cody's Wish lived up to his lofty billing with a gritty victory July 4 in the $173,250 Hanshin Stakes presented by JRA at Churchill Downs.
Cody's Wish, named for a 16-year-old boy who suffers from the rare genetic disorder Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, turned in back-to-back stakes-winning performances for trainer Bill Mott. The 4-year-old son of Curlin , a late bloomer who didn't break his maiden until October of last year, entered the Hanshin off a stellar five-length romp in the Westchester Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park.
When a fever knocked him out of Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) contention, Cody's Wish was aimed for the Hanshin, and he lined up as the heavy 3-5 favorite against a field of six.
Ridden back by Junior Alvarado, Cody's Wish tracked three-wide the entire way down the backstretch behind Mish 's swift early pace of :23.20 and :45.61. As the tempo continued to quicken around the turn, Cody's Wish drew even with the leader and swept to the front past six furlongs in 1:09.43. Three Technique , the race trailer, circled the field in a stirring move to engage Cody's Wish in a battle down the lane. Appearing beaten mid-stretch, Cody's Wish fought back gamely, a neck ahead of his rival at the wire.
“He had to fight back today in the stretch,” Alvarado said. “(Three Technique) was really closing fast but Cody dug back in and was really determined to stay in front of him. It was special to be able to ride him back. I rode him in his debut and from that start and his last two, winning the Westchester and here today he’s really matured a lot.”
Cody's Wish ($3.40) ran the one mile on a fast track in 1:34.10.
Three Technique, the longest shot on the board at 13-1, was a clear second over Awesome Gerry in third.
“Words really can’t describe how special that was,” Mott’s chief Kentucky assistant trainer Kenny McCarthy said. “This horse, who is named after someone so special to us and the barn, Cody Dorman, showed so much heart to get the job done today. We’re just so happy to play a small part in this very special story. He had to work pretty hard today but he was determined and didn’t want to lose.”
Cody's Wish increased his earnings to $492,130 and sports a 5-1-3 record from nine career starts.
Bred in Kentucky, Cody's Wish is out of Godolphin's grade 1-winning Tapit mare Dance Card , making him a half brother to multiple graded stakes-placed Endorsed and stakes-placed Bocephus . Dance Card produced a yearling filly by Into Mischief and delivered a filly by Street Sense this year.