Why Cody's Wish should handle longer route distances

Based on recent comments from trainer Bill Mott, dirt miler Cody’s Wish might point toward the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) on Aug. 5 at Saratoga. If the 1 1/8-mile race goes well, then the connections could find reason to attempt the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November and stretch him out even more to the classic 10-furlong distance.

Plenty of gamblers out there believe Cody’s Wish can handle those distances. Despite competing in one-mile races for most of his career, Cody’s Wish has been attracting money in future Breeders’ Cup Classic wagers. He stands as the Classic favorite with three overseas bookmakers.

Although Cody’s Wish has lost at nine furlongs before, he deserves another shot to test his stamina. It feels too soon to say he cannot win at nine furlongs in August or stretch out to 10 furlongs in November.

Cody’s Wish’s lone attempt at a longer route distance came early in his development in July 2021 at Saratoga. He made his second start in a nine-furlong maiden special weight and gave no indication that the distance resulted in his loss as much as a poor break and inexperience.

In that initial nine-furlong try, Cody’s Wish broke slowly and spent the first quarter in seventh before he went forward to press the pacesetter Pipeline through the next two quarters. Pipeline put away Cody’s Wish on the far turn, but he could not win a stretch battle against the closing Vindictive, who ended up prevailing by a head. Understandably, Cody’s Wish faded to third and 5 3/4 lengths behind the winner Vindictive.

In future races, Pipeline ended up as a decent miler type with plenty of speed for trainer Chad Brown. He pressed Jackie's Warrior in last year's Forego Stakes (G1) before Cody's Wish ended up mowing them down. 

On that note, Cody’s Wish has been a dominant dirt miler who also performs well in seven-furlong races. His wins in his current four-race win streak, all Grade 1s, are the Forego Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, Churchill Downs Stakes and the Metropolitan Handicap earlier this month.

With less aggressive tactics than shown two years ago, Cody’s Wish probably can last longer in nine and 10-furlong races, especially now that he owns plenty of racing experience and four Grade 1 wins. Sometimes horses need more seasoning under their belt before they can stretch out to longer distances, even with the right stamina pedigree.

For those who prefer a pedigree reason to defend Cody's Wish's possible attempt at the Whitney Stakes, this 5-year-old horse shows a beautiful pedigree filled with excellent stamina on both sides of the family.

Cody’s Wish’s sire Curlin was an ultra-successful router in his career and has been an established stamina influence for years by now. His active stakes routers besides Cody’s Wish include Clairiere, Lord Miles and Idiomatic. Lord Miles won the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) in April, and Idiomatic won a 10-furlong optional claimer at Turfway Park in January.

On the bottom side, Cody’s Wish’s dam Dance Card won the nine-furlong Gazelle Stakes (G1) in November 2012. She also took a nine-furlong optional claiming race at Saratoga in August of the same year. With two nine-furlong wins on record, it is more likely she can produce runners who can handle longer routes, especially with the stamina sire Curlin on top.

Also note Dance Card’s sire Tapit, who has sired four Belmont Stakes winners, and her damsire Editor’s Note, the 1996 Belmont winner.

Granted, not all horses run to their pedigree. The horse’s record takes precedence over whatever influences might lie in his family, which is why pedigree is less important as horses try new scenarios. Based on those names, though, Cody’s Wish is supposed to love stretching out.

Stretching out Cody’s Wish is not certain to work out until he tries the Whitney, but he most likely will find success and run well. His pedigree looks too good to believe he cannot handle longer distances, and his lone try at nine furlongs came too early in his career. As an older horse, he should enjoy it.

But if Cody’s Wish fails at nine furlongs, trainer Bill Mott and Godolphin can always turn him back in November and aim for another win in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.