Mott Ponders Summer Options for Cody's Wish

Bill Mott had a right to put his feet up at his Belmont Park barn the morning of June 11, the day after Juddmonte's Elite Power  won the True North Stakes (G2) and Godolphin's Cody's Wish  the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) for the trainer. Instead, the 69-year-old held a pitchfork mid-morning, tossing small pieces of wood from the shavings-based surface of his shedrow into a muck basket as horses walked past.

Asked of his spirits the day following their exciting victories, Mott quipped, "I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't feel OK."

Nor would he be in the Hall of Fame without hard work and fast horses such as Elite Power and Cody's Wish. Elite Power earned a 112 Equibase Speed Figure in winning the 6 1/2-furlong True North in his first start since winning the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G3) in Saudi Arabia Feb. 25, while Cody's Wish remained perfect at a mile in decisively winning the Metropolitan Handicap with a 116 ESF.

First and second in Eclipse Award voting last year for champion older male sprinter, with Elite Power prevailing by a 108-70 margin, the two horses appear likely to race this summer at Saratoga Race Course. Mott mentioned the six-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) July 29 as a possible target for Elite Power, with plans still to be determined for Cody's Wish , whose best races have come from seven furlongs to a mile. He has a two-turn victory in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) but has been campaigned primarily in one-turn races.

Both horses are 5-year-olds by Curlin  .

Races at Saratoga that would appear to be considerations for Cody's Wish include the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) Aug. 5 at 1 1/8 miles or the $500,000, seven-furlong Forego Stakes (G1) Aug. 26. He won the Forego last year. 

"I've never been anxious running a mile and an eighth because we've done so well at a mile but I suppose we're gonna have to get into our thought process here and figure out if that's something we want to do," Mott said. "Put it this way, we would be going into territory you're unsure about, of that I'm unsure about, anyway."

Brad Cox, who trains Caravel , winner of the Jaipur Stakes (G1T), also does not have a race immediately in mind for his star grass mare, who captured the Breeder's Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) last year. He said she would return to his primary training base in Kentucky and he would "let her chill out." He said he would discuss options with owners Qatar Racing, Mark Detampel, and Madaket Stables regarding a schedule to prepare for a bid for a second consecutive Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint victory. The race is Nov. 4 this year at Santa Anita Park in Southern California.

"Obviously the goal is to get to Santa Anita. We're going to be in the heat of the summer here soon. I don't want to overdo it with her, get her to California and have her happy and healthy for the Breeders' Cup."

He expressed no concern about the shorter five-furlong distance of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, where the downhill 6 1/2-furlong course is not being utilized. The race was run over 5 1/2 furlongs last year at Keeneland.

Five furlongs "would have suited her well yesterday I suppose," Cox said of the Mizzen Mast  mare, who led with a furlong remaining in the Jaipur.