Horse Racing: MOJO RISING wins debut, IRAD ORTIZ wins 5x at Gulf; JOURNALISM wins Ky. Derby prep; 1st 2025 Breeders' Cup prep highlighted by race call in Argentina

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Bob Baffert doesn't ship to Florida very often but he has won the Pegasus World Cup twice in its seven years of existence. He (will have) the morning line favorite in the 2024 edition.

TICKETS: Individual tickets range in price from $150 to $1,619,

ENTRIES: PEGASUS WORLD CUP INVITATIONAL S. PRESENTED BY BACCARAT (G1)​

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 27, 2024, Race 13

• Grade I
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $3,000,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:40 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Nimitz Class (PA)	Edgard J. Zayas	123	George Weaver	-
2	O'Connor (CHI)	Paco Lopez	123	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	-
3	Dynamic One (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	123	Todd A. Pletcher	-
4	Hoist the Gold (KY)	John R. Velazquez	123	Dallas Stewart	-
5	Trademark (KY)	Fernando De La Cruz	123	Victoria H. Oliver	-
6	Senor Buscador (KY)	Junior Alvarado	123	Todd W. Fincher	-
7	National Treasure (KY)	Flavien Prat	123	Bob Baffert	-
8	First Mission (KY)	Luis Saez	123	Brad H. Cox	-
9	Grand Aspen (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	123	Todd A. Pletcher	-
10	Il Miracolo (KY)	Javier Castellano	123	Antonio Sano	-
11	Crupi (KY)	Lanfranco Dettori	123	Todd A. Pletcher	-
12	Skippylongstocking (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	123	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	-
13	Castle Chaos (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	123	Robert N. Falcone, Jr.	-

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$91,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 M	Turf	16	11:00 AM ET
2	$89,000	Maiden Special Weight	7 F	Dirt	12	11:30 AM ET
3	$92,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	7 1/2 F	Turf	13	12:00 PM ET
4	$100,000	Handicap	1 M 70 Y	All Weather	9	12:31 PM ET
5	$92,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 M	Turf	16	1:02 PM ET
6	$150,000	La Prevoyante S. presented by Ketel One Espresso Martini	1 1/2 M	Turf	9	1:33 PM ET
7	$100,000	Handicap	1 M 70 Y	All Weather	13	2:04 PM ET
8	$200,000	William L. McKnight S. presented by Florida Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association	1 1/2 M	Turf	16	2:41 PM ET
9	$200,000	Inside Information S. presented by Don Julio Tequila	7 F	Dirt	10	3:13 PM ET
10	$500,000	TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational S.	1 1/16 M	Turf	13	3:45 PM ET
11	$150,000	Fred W. Hooper S. presented by Whispering Angel	1 M	Dirt	12	4:20 PM ET
12	$1,000,000	1/ST BET Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S.	1 1/8 M	Turf	14	4:55 PM ET
13	$3,000,000	Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. presented by Baccarat	1 1/8 M	Dirt	13	5:40 PM ET

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Feb. 27 at Oaklawn. This is an enticing card.

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$115,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/16 M	Dirt	9	12:30 PM CT
2	$40,000	Claiming	1 1/16 M	Dirt	12	12:58 PM CT
3	$60,000	Maiden Claiming	6 F	Dirt	12	1:31 PM CT
4	$37,000	Starter Allowance	1 1/8 M	Dirt	12	2:04 PM CT
5	$61,000	Claiming	6 F	Dirt	14	2:37 PM CT
6	$44,000	Claiming	6 F	Dirt	14	3:10 PM CT
7	$140,000	Allowance	1 1/16 M	Dirt	11	3:44 PM CT
8	$141,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 F	Dirt	12	4:22 PM CT
9	$150,000	Fifth Season S.	1 M	Dirt	8	4:55 PM CT
10	$115,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 F	Dirt	14	5:24 PM CT

 

[GKJ]

 

[Marco 85]

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Bob Baffert doesn't ship to Florida very often but he has won the Pegasus World Cup twice in its seven years of existence. He (will have) the morning line favorite in the 2024 edition.

TICKETS: Individual tickets range in price from $150 to $1,619,

ENTRIES: PEGASUS WORLD CUP INVITATIONAL S. PRESENTED BY BACCARAT (G1)​

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 27, 2024, Race 13

• Grade I
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $3,000,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 5:40 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Nimitz Class (PA)	Edgard J. Zayas	123	George Weaver	-
2	O'Connor (CHI)	Paco Lopez	123	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	-
3	Dynamic One (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	123	Todd A. Pletcher	-
4	Hoist the Gold (KY)	John R. Velazquez	123	Dallas Stewart	-
5	Trademark (KY)	Fernando De La Cruz	123	Victoria H. Oliver	-
6	Senor Buscador (KY)	Junior Alvarado	123	Todd W. Fincher	-
7	National Treasure (KY)	Flavien Prat	123	Bob Baffert	-
8	First Mission (KY)	Luis Saez	123	Brad H. Cox	-
9	Grand Aspen (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	123	Todd A. Pletcher	-
10	Il Miracolo (KY)	Javier Castellano	123	Antonio Sano	-
11	Crupi (KY)	Lanfranco Dettori	123	Todd A. Pletcher	-
12	Skippylongstocking (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	123	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	-
13	Castle Chaos (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	123	Robert N. Falcone, Jr.	-

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$91,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 M	Turf	16	11:00 AM ET
2	$89,000	Maiden Special Weight	7 F	Dirt	12	11:30 AM ET
3	$92,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	7 1/2 F	Turf	13	12:00 PM ET
4	$100,000	Handicap	1 M 70 Y	All Weather	9	12:31 PM ET
5	$92,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 M	Turf	16	1:02 PM ET
6	$150,000	La Prevoyante S. presented by Ketel One Espresso Martini	1 1/2 M	Turf	9	1:33 PM ET
7	$100,000	Handicap	1 M 70 Y	All Weather	13	2:04 PM ET
8	$200,000	William L. McKnight S. presented by Florida Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association	1 1/2 M	Turf	16	2:41 PM ET
9	$200,000	Inside Information S. presented by Don Julio Tequila	7 F	Dirt	10	3:13 PM ET
10	$500,000	TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational S.	1 1/16 M	Turf	13	3:45 PM ET
11	$150,000	Fred W. Hooper S. presented by Whispering Angel	1 M	Dirt	12	4:20 PM ET
12	$1,000,000	1/ST BET Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S.	1 1/8 M	Turf	14	4:55 PM ET
13	$3,000,000	Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. presented by Baccarat	1 1/8 M	Dirt	13	5:40 PM ET

Weather is supposed to be great. 80 degrees.
7 turf races. Let’s go!

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

What that tells me based on timing is Baffert is hopeful that CD ends its current suspension which is extended through the end of the year. However, if that was likely it seems lawyers for both sides would have come to an agreement. CD is not changing its stance. Baffert's owners have to decide in the next couple or so days (Jan. 29 to be exact) whether to give those horses to other trainers since he can participate in Derby preps (except at Turfway, FG and CD) but cannot gain points needed to enter the race in May.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Weather is supposed to be great. 80 degrees.
7 turf races. Let’s go!

You probably know but Fair Grounds has a late first post of 4 pm ET.

Bet the horse not the jock or trainer is a truism of many but this stat can't go unnoticed -- Chad Brown is 0-for-26 at the meet.

Chad C. Brown

26

--

0

4

2

$94,120

0%

6

--

--

I will guess Gulf handles more than $40 million but some of the exotics will gain instant attention:

Race	Post	Betting Menu	P4-5-6	Notes
1	11:00	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P5	P5 mandatory
2	11:30	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P4
3	12:00	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P4
4	12:31	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P5	P5 mandatory
5	1:02	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3
6	1:33	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P4
7	2:04	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3
8	2:41	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P6
9	3:13	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P5	P5 $750K guarantee
10 (Pegasus F&M Turf)	3:45	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P4	P4 $750K guarantee
11	4:20	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3		P3 $350K guarantee
12 (Pegasus Turf)	4:55	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, HI-5, DD
13 (Pegasus Dirt)	5:40	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, HI-5

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Lots of news today, here goes...

Officials recommend DQ of Maximum Security from Saudi Cup win

Saudi Arabia officials recommend DQ for Maximum Security from Saudi Cup win.

www.horseracingnation.com

The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia recommended Tuesday that Maximum Security be disqualified from his win in the 2020 Saudi Cup and that trainer Jason Servis should be sanctioned.​

​

If the recommendation is followed, the $10 million winner's share apparently would go to the connections of Midnight Bisou, who crossed the wire second, three-quarters of a length behind Maximum Security.​

​

Payment of the purse for the Feb. 29, 2020, race was stopped after the March 9, 2020, federal indictment of Servis, who was accused of providing performance-enhancing drugs to "virtually all of the racehorses under his control." Servis pleaded guilty in 2022 to two charges related to the indictments and was sentenced in July to four years in prison.​

​

After Servis made his plea, Maximum Security owners Gary and Mary West said they supported the redistribution of the 2020 Saudi Cup purse. The Wests said reallocating the purse would "hopefully ... prevent future conduct of this nature."​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Good first card for Turf Paradise. Hopefully not the last meet for the track.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Here is the current Kentucky Derby Leader Board

Horse	Points	Trainer	Earnings*
1. Fierceness	30	Todd Pletcher	$1,045,000
2. Track Phantom	30	Steve Asmussen	$180,000
3. Locked	19	Todd Pletcher	$538,050
4. Timberlake	16	Brad Cox	$435,000
5. Liberal Arts	13	Robert Medina	$152,325
6. Nash	13	Brad Cox	$50,000
7. West Saratoga	11	Larry Demeritte	$197,640
8. Honor Marie	10	Whit Beckman	$240,455
9. Otto the Conqueror	10	Steve Asmussen	$180,000
10. Dornoch	10	Danny Gargan	$177,500
11. Catching Freedom	10	Brad Cox	$162,000
12. Risk It	7	Steve Asmussen	$80,163
13. Moonlight	7	Todd Pletcher	$55,000
14. Informed Patriot	6	Steve Asmussen	$47,000
15. Lat Long	6	Kenny McPeek	$20,000
16. The Wine Steward	5	Mike Maker	$219,010
17. Just Steel	5	D. Wayne Lukas	$198,545
18. Glengarry	5	Doug Anderson	$150,675
19. General Partner	5	Chad Brown	$140,000
20. Real Men Violin	5	Kenny McPeek	$78,050
21. El Grande O	5	Linda Rice	$65,000
22. Stronghold	5	Phil D'Amato	$60,000
23. Sierra Leone	5	Chad Brown	$50,000
24. Snead	5	Brendan Walsh	$20,000
25. Gettysburg Address	4	Brad Cox	$26,200
26. Ethan Energy	4	Brad Cox	$8,000
27. Magic Grant	3	Eddie Milligan Jr.	$78,000
28. Dancing Groom	3	Antonio Sano	$63,752
29. Generous Tipper	3	Kenny McPeek	$57,750
30. Be You	3	Todd Pletcher	$54,000
31. Stretch Ride	3	Dale Romans	$39,025
32. Northern Flame	3	Kenny McPeek	$34,875
33. Khanate	3	Todd Pletcher	$18,000
34. Gold Sweep	2	Steve Asmussen	$158,300
35. Raging Torrent	2	Doug O'Neill	$60,000
36. Seize the Grey	2	D. Wayne Lukas	$32,663
37. Third Street	2	Shawn Davis	$22,500
38. Regalo	2	Brittany Russell	$9,000
39. Footprint	2	Greg McDonald	$4,000
40. Tizzy Indy	2	Keith Desormeaux	$4,000
41. Sweet Soddy J	1	Raymont Ginter Jr.	$136,250
42. Rothschild	1	Tim Yakteen	$26,500
43. My Buddy Mel	1	Danny Pish	$24,000
44. Air Cav	1	Brad Cox	$20,000
45. Awesome Road	1	Brad Cox	$19,208
46. Ace of Clubs	1	Doug O'Neill	$19,000
47. Edified	1	Steve Asmussen	$16,797
48. Mystik Dan	1	Kenny McPeek	$10,800
* Non-restricted stakes

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Someone posted images of Hall of Fame's win on Saturday. Asmussen has multiple Derby contenders to date but is this one a potential winner finally?

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TV Schedule

​

Date	Program	Time	Network/Social Media
Jan. 26	"America's Day at the Races"	2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.	FS2
Jan. 26	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
Jan. 26	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
Jan. 27	"America's Day at the Races"	12 p.m.-1 p.m. on FS1, 1 p.m.-5:45 p.m. on FS2	FS1 and FS2
Jan. 27	Broadcast of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes	4:30 p.m.-6 p.m.	NBC and Peacock
Jan. 27	Live coverage of horse racing including stakes races from Gulfstream Park	post time varies	FanDuel TV
Jan. 27	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network
Jan. 28	"America's Day at the Races"	2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. on FS2, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on FS1	FS2 and FS1
Jan. 28	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	FanDuel TV
Jan. 28	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	Racetrack Television Network

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

53rd Annual Eclipse Awards
January 25, 2024​

The Breakers Palm Beach

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

​

Trainer​

Chad Brown ​ Brad Cox​ Bill Mott​

Owner​

Godolphin​ Juddmonte​ Klaravich​

Breeder​

Calumet​ Godolphin​ Stonestreet​

Jockey​

Tyler Gaffalione​ Irad Ortiz Jr.​ Flavien Prat​

Apprentice Jockey​

Axel Concepcion​ Jaime A. Torres​ Sofia Vives​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Older dirt female​

Clairiere​ Goodnight Olive​ Idiomatic​

Male turf​

Auguste Rodin​ Master of The Seas​ Up to the Mark​

Female turf​

In Italian​ Inspiral​ Mawj​

Male sprinter​

Cody's Wish​ Elite Power​ Gunite​

Female sprinter​

Echo Zulu​ Goodnight Olive​ Maple Leaf Mel​

Steeplechase horse​

Awakened​ Merry Maker​ Snap Decision​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

2-year-old male​

Fierceness​ Locked​ Muth​

2-year-old female​

Candied​ Hard to Justify​ Just F Y I​

3-year-old male​

Arcangelo​ Auguste Rodin​ Mage​

3-year-old female​

Mawj​ Pretty Mischievous​ Randomized​

Older dirt male​

Cody’s Wish​ Elite Power​ White Abarrio​

​

​

 

[Marco 85]

You probably know but Fair Grounds has a late first post of 4 pm ET.

Bet the horse not the jock or trainer is a truism of many but this stat can't go unnoticed -- Chad Brown is 0-for-26 at the meet.

Chad C. Brown

26

--

0

4

2

$94,120

0%

6

--

--

I will guess Gulf handles more than $40 million but some of the exotics will gain instant attention:

Race	Post	Betting Menu	P4-5-6	Notes
1	11:00	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P5	P5 mandatory
2	11:30	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P4
3	12:00	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P4
4	12:31	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P5	P5 mandatory
5	1:02	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3
6	1:33	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P4
7	2:04	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3
8	2:41	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P6
9	3:13	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P5	P5 $750K guarantee
10 (Pegasus F&M Turf)	3:45	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3	P4	P4 $750K guarantee
11	4:20	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, DD, P3		P3 $350K guarantee
12 (Pegasus Turf)	4:55	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, HI-5, DD
13 (Pegasus Dirt)	5:40	WPS, EX, TRI, SUPER, HI-5

Brown‘s horses don’t play well at Gulfstream.
His horses always close which is against the
way Gulfstreams turf course plays.
He’ll dominate Aqueduct in the spring and fall.
As well as well as Saratoga.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Brown‘s horses don’t play well at Gulfstream.
His horses always close which is against the
way Gulfstreams turf course plays.
He’ll dominate Aqueduct in the spring and fall.
As well as well as Saratoga.

I won't belabor the point but he was 25% and 26%, respectively, at Gulf the past two championship meets. It is still somewhat early.

He devours New York as you stated and also Tampa Bay.

 

[Marco 85]

I won't belabor the point but he was 25% and 26%, respectively, at Gulf the past two championship meets. It is still somewhat early.

He devours New York as you stated and also Tampa Bay.

Wow. I didn’t realize that. Must be because he doesn’t send out that many compared to other meets. I stand corrected.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Turfway (KY):

• Race 5: Call Me Toni (Sonny Leon/Byron Hughes) completed a rare sequence in which all favorites were beaten which led to a $.50 Pick 5 worth $163,000+.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

 

[GKJ]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

2023 Eclipse Awards Winners​

Jan 25, 2024

2023 Eclipse Awards: Cody's Wish elected Horse of the Year


Horse of the Year: Cody's Wish
Voting: Cody’s Wish, 134; White Abarrio, 37; Idiomatic, 21; Up to the Mark, 9; Arcangelo, 6; Auguste Rodin (IRE), 6; Elite Power, 5; Practical Move, 1.


Older Dirt Male: Cody's Wish
Voting: Cody’s Wish, 148; White Abarrio, 65; Elite Power, 5, Defunded, 1.


Older Dirt Female: Idiomatic
Voting: Idiomatic, 211; Goodnight Olive, 4; Echo Zulu, 3; Adare Manor, 1.


Steeplechase: Merry Maker
Voting: Merry Maker (IRE), 69; Snap Decision, 50; Awakened, 25; Noah and The Arc (IRE), 24; Belfast Banter (IRE), 19; Scaramanga (IRE), 6; Voter Abstentions, 26.


2-year-old male: Fierceness
Voting: Fierceness, 205; Big Evs (IRE), 4; Muth, 3; Locked, 2; Prince of Monaco, 2; Nutella Fella, 1; The Wine Steward, 1; Timberlake, 1.


2-year-old filly: Just F Y I
Voting: Just F Y I, 202; Hard to Justify, 9; Candied, 3; Tamara, 2; Brightwork, 1; Jody’s Pride, 1; She Feels Pretty, 1.



Owner: Godolphin LLC
Voting: Godolphin, LLC, 191; Klaravich Stables, Inc., 7; Juddmonte, 5; Gary Barber, 2; Repole Stable, 2; Coleswood Farm, Inc., 1; Harris Farm, Inc., 1; George Krikorian, 1; Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC, 1; Bruno Schickedanz, 1; Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, 1; Voter Abstentions, 6.


Breeder: Godolphin LLC
Voting: Godolphin, 202; Calumet Farm, 3; Brereton C. Jones, 3; Richard Barton Enterprises, 1; George Krikorian, 1; Repole Stable, 1; Spendthrift Farm LLC, 1; Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, LLC, 1; Taylor Made Farm, 1; Voter Abstentions, 5.


Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Voting: Irad Ortiz Jr., 187; Javier Castellano,17; Flavien Prat, 7; Junior Alvarado, 4; Juan Hernandez, 1; Luis Saez, 1; Mike Smith, 1. Voter Abstention, 1.


Apprentice jockey: Axel Concepcion
Voting: Axel Concepcion, 166; Sofia Vives, 16; Jaime Torres, 14; Luis R. Rivera Jr., 7; Walter A. Rodriguez, 2; Voter Abstentions, 14.


Trainer: Bill Mott
Voting: Bill Mott, 132; Brad Cox, 60; Steve Asmussen, 8; Chad Brown, 7; Jena Antonucci, 4; Todd Pletcher, 3; Bob Baffert, 1; Mark Casse, 1; Linda Rice, 1. Voter Abstentions, 2.


3-year-old filly: Pretty Mischievous
Voting: Pretty Mischievous, 182; Randomized, 24; Mawj (IRE), 9; Ceiling Crusher, 2; Faiza, 2.


3-year-old male: Arcangelo
Voting: Arcangelo, 193; Auguste Rodin (IRE), 21; Arabian Knight, 2; Mage, 1; National Treasure, 1; Two Phil’s, 1.


Turf Female: Inspiral
Voting: Inspiral (GB), 112; In Italian (GB), 50; Mawj (IRE), 43; Anisette (GB), 4; War Like Goddess, 3; Caravel, 2; Closing Remarks, 1; Didia (ARG), 1; Fev Rover, (IRE), 1; Moira, 1; Surge Capacity, 1.


Turf Male: Up to the Mark
Voting: Up to the Mark, 141; Auguste Rodin (IRE), 60; Master of The Seas (IRE), 12; Casa Creed, 1; Exaulted, 1; Integration, 1; Nobals, 1; Program Trading, (GB) 1; Red Knight, 1.


Female Sprinter: Goodnight Olive
Voting: Goodnight Olive, 140; Echo Zulu, 72; Maple Leaf Mel, 3; Caravel, 2; Kirstenbosch, 1; Pretty Mischievous, 1.


Male Sprinter: Elite Power
Voting: Elite Power, 183; Cody’s Wish, 35; Speed Boat Beach, 1.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

One of truly remarkable sport stories that has been recognized in quite some time.

Cody's Wish Earns Horse of the Year Honors

Godolphin's now 6-year-old homebred Cody's Wish was announced as the Horse of the Year at the 53rd annual Eclipse Awards dinner Jan. 25 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla.

www.bloodhorse.com

As Cody's Wish needed four cracks as a 3-year-old in 2021 to break his maiden, the story of the young boy and the bay colt gained little attention, but as Mott developed Cody's Wish into a graded stakes winner at 4, it started touching the hearts of more and more people with each passing race.

It went viral when Cody's Wish captured the 2022 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland by a head over Cyberknife and Dorman was part of the winner's circle celebration.

In 2023, Dorman and Cody's Wish were a coupled entry that attracted mainstream media attention. There were poignant nationally televised scenes when the teenager and his family were on hand for the 5-year-old's third-place finish in the Whitney at Saratoga Race Course as well as his namesake's dramatic farewell performance at Santa Anita Park when the multiple graded stakes winner prevailed by a nose to become the second horse to post consecutive Dirt Mile wins.

"It was an unbelievable year all around for Godolphin on the racetrack, but what was special was sharing the journey with Cody Dorman and his family. The opportunity the horse gave them to do something they had never done before was heartwarming, and the way the horse racing industry, racetracks, and fans embraced them was incredible," Banahan said. "The Dormans were an inspiration to a lot of families who are also facing difficult situations in their lives. It was an unbelievable experience. Even when we lost at Saratoga there was so much love for Cody. It was a great day for the family."

Tragically, Cody Dorman lost his battle for life on the trip home to Kentucky the day after the Nov. 4 Dirt Mile. He was 17 and left behind a legacy that for years will be attached to a Thoroughbred acclaimed as Horse of the Year.