Cody's Wish

Yes, Bill Mott was loyal to Junior Alvarado, letting him ride Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Kentucky Derby after he missed the main prep in the GI Florida Derby. Alvarado fractured his shoulder blade in a Mar. 23 spill at Gulfstream and was sent to the sidelines. Manny Franco filled in for the Florida Derby and rode a fine race, guiding Sovereignty to a second-place finish. That opened the door to a number of possibilities. Mott could have kept Franco on the horse or he easily could have enticed...

Given their current trajectories, Tapit ($214.6 million) will soon be overtaken by Into Mischief ($205.2 million) as the highest-earning stallion in American history. In terms of volume, however, their respective output just now happens to be virtually identical: Into Mischief, with bigger books across four fewer crops, tallies 1,735 named foals and 1,440 starters against 1,718 and 1,447 for his venerable rival. And though Spendthrift's champion recently nosed ahead by stakes winners (170/166), his upgraded mares are still cycling through and Tapit for now remains clear in the elite indices:...

The TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Today we caught up with Blue Heaven Farm. 2024 was Blue Heaven Farm's best year on record. In addition to several nice results at the Keeneland September sale, we were represented by five different stakes horses on the track, including two runners in the Breeders' Cup. We are hoping to keep the momentum going in 2025 and beyond.  Below are the mating plans for a handful...

A monument by sculptor Jocelyn Russell commemorating the story of the late Cody Dorman and 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish will be installed at the Kentucky Horse Park, with dedication scheduled for this October. Titled "The Bond: Two Hearts—One Spirit," the monument's creation will be documented at CodysWishMonument.com. "The relationship we share with the horse is special," said Lee Carter, Director of the Kentucky Horse Park. "It can raise our spirits and improve our well-being. There is no better example of this than the bond between Cody Dorman...

From Godolphin's 12 starters in 10 renewals of the GI Kentucky Derby, favored Essential Quality (Tapit)'s promoted third-place finish following Medina Spirit (Protonico)'s medication disqualification in 2021 has been the best result to date. With four serious contenders--all homebreds--on target for upcoming Kentucky Derby preps and fresh off a fifth consecutive Eclipse Award as outstanding owner, could this be the year for Sheikh Mohammed's powerhouse global operation? "We've been there before and we've had chances," Godolphin USA Director of Bloodstock Michael Banahan said. "Who knows what's written in the stars,...

A colt born at Ramiro Salazar's Phoenix Farm and Racing near Georgetown, Kentucky is the first reported foal for Horse of the Year and Darley stallion Cody's Wish (Curlin--Dance Card, by Tapit). Bred by Frederick & May Construction, the colt made his way into the world Monday, Jan. 6. He is out of three-time graded winner Hotshot Anna (Trappe Shot), a seven-time black-type winner who earned just over $975,000. Frederick & May Construction purchased the mare for $400,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November sale. Cody's Wish, winner of the GI...

Ten events from Thoroughbred racing in North America last year were nominated for the 2024 FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year, a distinction determined by fan voting and recognized at the annual Eclipse Awards, according to a press release from the NTRA on Thursday morning. Voting is now open on the NTRA website and via X, where every retweet or use of the official hashtag for the moments as presented on the @NTRA account will be counted as one vote. The FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year will be recognized...

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 670 entries for its December Digital Sale, which opened Thursday and will close in stages beginning on Tuesday, Dec. 10, the auction house said in a Thursday press release. On offer (hips 1-305) are horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, solely broodmare prospects, weanlings, and yearlings, which cuts off on Tuesday, Dec. 10, beginning at Noon ET. A selection of broodmares, (hips 306-end) will conclude Wednesday, Dec. 11, beginning at Noon ET. "This is the largest digital catalogue ever compiled worldwide," said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton director of...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - If the 2024 racing season at Saratoga Race Course wrapped up Labor Day weekend, why are so many of the best horsemen in the country still sticking around? Overlooking the famed Oklahoma Training Track, and, at the moment, enveloped in bright fall foliage, the former home to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin) seems like a good place to start. "What did we win, five the last two years? That's not bad," Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said with a smile standing outside...

ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption and After the Finish Line will restart the popular Moneigh auctions--abstract artwork created by horses using their lips, muzzle, hoof, and/or whiskers--later this week. Eighteen original Moneighs by Breeders' Cup winners and competitors will be up for bid, including original artwork by Cody's Wish, Serena's Song, Authentic, Kitten's Joy, Afleet Alex, Blame, Ghostzapper, Midshipman, and others. "This new collaboration between charities means proceeds will help even more Off-Track Thoroughbreds in need. The Moneighs are back with a fresh new look and exciting new stallion, broodmare, and pony...

Darley America has released its fee schedule for its stallion roster and leading the way is Medaglia d'Oro (El Prado {Ire}) at $75,000, while the amount for Nyquist (Uncle Mo) will be named after this year's Breeders' Cup, according to Jonabell Farm's management in a Wednesday presser. After Medaglia d'Oro, Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin) is tabbed at $65,000, while multiple Eclipse champion Essential Quality (Tapit) and sire of sires Street Sense (Street Cry {Ire}) both come in at $50,000. "The 2024 breeding season was one of our...

At the 17th annual Make-A-Wish Day at Keeneland, Big Ass Fans, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Leslie and Kelly Dorman, and other special guests announced the creation of the Cody Dorman Legacy Wish Fund, a presser revealed Friday. In addition to the inaugural donations, a first ever Cody Dorman Legacy Wish was granted during the ceremony. For the past 17 years, Make-A-Wish Day at Keeneland and its sponsors have granted 10 wishes annually but with a new mission to raise an additional $100,000 annually thanks to the added sponsorship, the goal is...