Cody's Wish Keeps Dream Alive With Met Mile Triumph

As Cody's Wish approached the starting gate for the 2023 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) June 10, many fans in the Belmont Park crowd surged forward to get as close to the action as possible. While the race start would take place on the other side of the 1 1/2-mile track, a few extra feet mattered for those fans anticipating something special. That expectation would prove well-founded as the 5-year-old son of Curlin launched a wide rally in the turn to surge past seven horses, overwhelming his overmatched rivals as he quickly opened a four-length advantage in the stretch on his way to a fourth-straight grade 1 win and sixth straight score overall. A homebred for Godolphin, Cody's Wish landed a victory in one of the country's great sire-making races, increased his career earnings to more than $2.3 million, and thrilled onlookers who roared as he galloped through the stretch. Michael Banahan, director of bloodstock for Godolphin USA, will remember the well-wishes ahead of the race and the roar as Cody's Wish delivered. "He's such a popular horse with even non-racing people in the (United) States," Banahan noted. "Coming out of the tunnel, people would stop and yell, 'He's the best horse in America; he's the best horse in the world.' We love Cody's Wish, so those cheers are fantastic. That's what we need in the industry. We need to have popular horses that fans can get behind and bring new people in. If his story doesn't bring in non-racing people, nothing will. It's just as amazing story." Banahan was referencing the continued love between the horse and Cody Dorman, who was born with a rare genetic disorder called Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. They developed a close connection following an effort between Keeneland and the Make-A-Wish Foundation when the Godolphin homebred was a yearling. Dorman wasn't able to make the races Saturday but watched from home while his father Kelly was able to attend in-person. Trainer Bill Mott, who secured the first Met Mile of his storied career, continues to marvel at the story. "I get people coming up to me that probably aren't racetrackers and they talk about what a wonderful story it is with Cody Dorman. It really is. I mean, it's a terrific story," Mott said. "There's some connection there. There's something to it. I don't know what it is. But it's really quite a heartwarming story. "It's good for racing, good to have a good story. We're always challenged by the negative things as probably any sport—I don't think we're any different from anything else. But it's really good for Cody Dorman. And I think that's probably the biggest blessing out of this whole thing is that he really does know what this horse is doing. He's an intelligent young man who is unable to speak, unable to communicate normally, but I think I think it really has added a lot to his life." Like eventual Horse of the Year Flightline last year ahead of his six-length Met Mile win, Cody's Wish broke a step slow along the rail. Junior Alvarado, aboard Cody's Wish Saturday, quickly settled him as they raced eighth early while Dr. Schivel, Slow Down Andy, and Hoist the Gold dueled through a quarter-mile in :22.76. Hoist the Gold would open a half-length advantage through :45.86 when Cody's Wish unfurled his best, sweeping by rivals five-wide on his way to a big advantage before cruising to the wire 3 1/4 lengths ahead. "I was just trying to find my way out," Alvarado said of the winning move. "At about the half-mile pole I found my seam, moved behind the heels of horses to get into the clear, then he turned everything on. Then, I just had to get out of his way and let him do his thing. He's unbelievable. "His ability to move in the turn helped us today." Cody's Wish completed the one-turn mile in 1:34.36 on a fast track. Last year's Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Zandon rallied from seventh to finish second, a head in front of 2022 Florida Derby (G1) winner White Abarrio. The Metropolitan Handicap is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), which Cody's Wish won last year at Keeneland. As for his next start, Mott will give it some thought. "We've got to sit down; we're not in a rush to run back but we just have to decide where are we running back," Mott said. "If we run in the Whitney Stakes (G1, 1 1/8 miles Aug. 5 at Saratoga Race Course), I think that would be a big challenge. Most of his races have been between seven furlongs and a mile."