Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

Racing history is filled with racehorses named after individuals who fell short of noteworthy achievements, a reality in a sport in which fewer than half of Thoroughbreds ever win a race.

But there are exceptions when it almost seems that fate steps in to propel such horses to glory, and Godolphin’s homebred Cody’s Wish now is the poster boy for such accomplishments.

In the feel-good story of the Breeders’ Cup, the 4-year-old Curlin colt – named after Cody Dorman, a teenager who has a rare genetic disorder known as Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome – won before his namesake by grittily outfinishing Cyberknife by a head in the $1 million, Grade 1 Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on the Nov. 5 card at Keeneland.

Cody’s Wish covered the two-turn mile in 1:35.33 under Junior Alvarado as the 2.16-1 favorite. He improved his career record to seven wins, one second, and three thirds and $1,332,130 in earnings for Godolphin and trainer Bill Mott.

Dorman, who sat trackside in his wheelchair alongside his family, was embraced after the race by his father, Kelly, who spoke in his son’s ear. Cody’s mother Leslie and sister Kylie quickly joined the celebration of the moment, with barely a dry eye to be found.

“This is top of the world, and anything past that,” Kelly said.–Byron King