Alvarado says Whitney comes at the ‘right time’ for Cody’s Wish

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

When Cody’s Wish attempts to win beyond a mile for the first time in his career in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney, Júnior Alvarado will ride him with utmost confidence.

It is perhaps no coincidence that the horse’s current six-race winning streak began when Alvarado hopped aboard. The veteran jockey calls it the “right time” for them to tackle the 1 1/8-mile Whitney.

“We know he’s the best sprinter and probably miler in the country right now,” Alvarado said. “It’s the right time for him to step up and handle the route distance. He should be fine.”

Although Cody’s Wish mounted a determined charge to overtake gritty Cyberknife by a head in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, his rider would not have made the same statement last season.

“I knew he had ability. I knew he had potential. I just think last year he was a hard horse to be rating,” Alvarado said. “He wanted to do it his own way.

“This year, the two races I’ve been on him, he let me do it the way I wanted. He’s been waiting for me, waiting for me, and the time I ask him to run, he’s been there for me.”

In a big way.

The 5-year-old bided his time in his season debut before demolishing his competition by 4 3/4 lengths in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on May 6. He followed his cue and made a breathtaking five-wide move in the Met Mile (G1) to rule that prestigious race by 3 1/4 lengths June 10 at Belmont Park for his fourth consecutive Grade 1 triumph.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott likes the way horse and rider have grown together.

“I think he’s got a lot of confidence in him right now. I think maybe at one point he felt he should be up closer to the pace and tried to keep him closer,” Mott said of Alvarado. “It’s better to let him find his own stride, I think, and let him determine where he wants to be rather than the rider try to place him. If you place him, sometimes he might get a little rank.”

The Godolphin homebred attempted 1 1/8 miles one other time, in his second career start. He wound up third on July 28, 2021, at Saratoga with talented Joel Rosario aboard. Sure enough, the comment line indicated that the then 3-year-old was “rank inside.”

Cody’s Wish was a bit of a puzzle for Mott in the early stages of his development. “I thought he was a top horse from the very beginning,” the trainer said. “It was very surprising when it took him three tries to break his maiden.”

Mott went on, “Some horses are very easy. You can let them ease up and pick up horses gradually. Maybe he’s learning that a bit now, but it took him a while.”

One concern in the days leading to the Whitney revolved around whether there would be enough pace to run into. The swift presence of Charge It and Giant Game eliminated that. “They’re not going to be waiting on anybody, I don’t believe,” Mott said.

He also is fine with having his 1-2 favorite break from the outside post in a field of six. “We don’t have to stand in the gate too long, which might be a benefit for this horse,” he said.

Alvarado emphasized that the pace will determine when and where he asks Cody’s Wish to give him his all. When he does, he expects the response to be a sight to behold.

“When you turn the key on him to run, it’s a very good feeling for a jockey to have. He does start passing horses two by two and he does it kind of easily that you know you are going to have a lot left turning for home,” Alvarado said. “He gives me a very good feeling like no other.”