Cody's Wish Begins Breezing Toward Spring Return
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Photo: Skip Dickstein/Tim Lanahan
Cody's Wish defeats Cyberknife in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland
Cody's Wish recorded his first workout since capturing the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland with a three-furlong breeze in :38 4/5 March 1 at Payson Park in South Florida.
A winner of his last four races of 2022 for owner/breeder Godolphin, including the Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, Cody's Wish finished second in Eclipse Award voting for champion male sprinter of 2022 behind stablemate Elite Power . The latter won the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) for Mott and owner Juddmonte Farm.
"He's been doing good," Mott said of Cody's Wish, a 5-year-old son of Curlin . "He's been training off and on over the winter. We gave him a little break, but he's back training but depending if he's ready, we're looking at" the May 6 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on Derby Day for a potential return.
The Churchill Downs Stakes is a $750,000 seven-furlong contest five weeks before the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on Belmont Stakes Day, June 10. That race, commonly referred to as the Met Mile, was suggested by Mott as a long-term target soon after Cody's Wish's victory in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
"I'd love to win that race," Mott said.
No plans have been established for Elite Power beyond him having a break following his win in his season bow when sent to Saudi Arabia for the Feb. 25 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3), Mott said.