The heartfelt story of Godolphin homebred Cody’s Wish seems to be one that has no end in sight as the 5-year-son of Curlin captured his fifth straight victory in the $1 million, Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap June 10 at Belmont Park, one of eight graded stakes run on the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets undercard.

Alvarado and Cody's Wish. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Cody’s Wish, whose rise to success and connection to namesake Cody Dorman has gained national coverage, earned an automatic berth in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park, a race he won last year. The prestigious Metropolitan Handicap, better known as the Met Mile, is an automatic qualifier to the Breeders’ Cup as part of the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series.

Urged from the back of the pack to the far outside by jockey Junior Alvarado, Cody’s Wish swept by the field easily to finish the one-mile event in a final time of 1:34.36 on a fast main track 3 ¼ lengths in front of Zandon, who edged White Abarrio by a head for second.

Cody Dorman, a young man who has the rare Wolf-Hirschhorn genetic disorder, developed a bond with Cody’s Wish when Godolphin introduced him to an as-yet unnamed yearling in 2019. The two formed a lasting bond that has grown while Cody’s Wish developed into a top-level winner. Cody’s Wish won his first Grade 1 last summer at Saratoga, followed by his Breeder’s Cup win at Keeneland. He came back this year at age 5 and took the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford May 6 with Dorman and family watching in Louisville.

“It’s an amazing story and we’re so grateful to be part of it and have it carry on,” said Godolphin’s Michael Banahan. “But it’s all down to the horse. He’s a special, special horse. There was a good group of horses here today and he won relatively easy. He looked like he was toying with them at the end. It’s something to win the Met Mile by that big of a margin. There are some really, really good horses who have won the Met Mile over the years and I think he’s in the pantheon of those horses. We saw something very special today.”

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Cody’s Wish improved his record with the Met Mile victory to 9-1-3 from 13 starts.–Frank Angst

Clairiere Defends Ogden Phipps Title With Game Victory

Clairiere (left) edges Search Results. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Stonestreet Stables‘ Clairiere continues to blossom with age, nailing Search Results at the finish to score her second consecutive victory in the $500,000, Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes.

After trailing the field early under regular rider Joel Rosario, the 5-year-old daughter of Curlin steamrolled down the lane and prevailed by a half-length over Search Results in a final time of 1:43.40 for 1 1/16 miles.

Search Results finished 2 ½ lengths clear of third-place Played Hard in a game effort.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Clairiere earned an automatic berth to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park via the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. Clairiere registered her fourth Grade 1 tally of her career, and second in a row following a win in the Apple Blossom Handicap on April 15.

“I’m unbelievably proud of her. What a special mare,” Asmussen said. “For her to continue to win races on this level is just incredible. She’s always been top class and if anything, she’s better than she’s ever been. To continue winning is the goal with her, but we know where we’re aimed at with the Breeders’ Cup (Distaff) as her year-end target.”–Karen Johnson

Caravel Continues to Shine, Posts Fifth Straight Win in Jaipur

Caravel takes the Jaipur. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Caravel came from just off the pace to post her fifth win in a row in the $400,000, Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes for the top turf sprinters in the U.S., punching her ticket to attempt a repeat in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park.

The 6-year-old mare – typically on the lead in her recent wins – found a perfect spot stalking on the outside of pacesetter Nothing Better, who had nothing left for the final furlong. Caravel, by Mizzen Mast, completed the six furlongs in 1:07.93, three-quarters of a length in front of late-running Big Invasion. World-traveling multi-millionaire Casa Creed was third.

“Coming from the outside, I wanted to be a little bit aggressive and get her into a forward position,” jockey Tyler Gaffalione said. “She put me where I wanted to be and she travelled great, in hand. Coming into the stretch, I had so much confidence and she put them away nicely. It was nice to sit off because we know for sure for the future that she can do that.”

Trained by Brad Cox, Caravel upped her career record to 15-0-3 from 23 starts for owners Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel, and Madaket Stables. She won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland as a 42.89-1 longshot, and was favored in the Jaipur at odds of 2.90-1 against a stellar field of 13 male opponents.

“She never ceases to amaze me,” Cox said of Caravel. “She is absolutely amazing. She just never lets you down. She is spot on. I’m very proud of her.”–Byron King

Arabian Lion Claws His Way to Woody Stephens Win

Arabian Lion rallies to win. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Zedan Racing Stables‘ Arabian Lion showed his strong will to win in the $400,000, Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun, running down Drew’s Gold in the stretch to capture his first top-level victory.

The Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old son of Justify completed the seven-furlongs over a fast dirt track in a final time of 1:21.70 under jockey John Velazquez. He entered the race off of a four-length win in the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton Stakes May 20 at Pimlico and excelled on the cutback to seven-eighths of a mile around one turn.

Drew’s Gold suffered his first career defeat in five starts but held second by three-quarters of a length over Gilmore.

Arabian Lion improved his career record to three wins and two seconds from seven starts. Baffert said that he would consider the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes July 22 at Monmouth Park for Arabian Lion’s next start.–Bob Ehalt

Up to the Mark Rallies to Dominate Manhattan

Up to the Mark is much the best. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Repole Stable and St Elias Stable‘s Up to the Mark put in a sharp and commanding move in the stretch to run away with the $750,000, Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes.

Under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., the Todd Pletcher trainee stalked the pace in third through the first mile of the 1 ¼-mile Manhattan before taking over in early stretch and powering to a 2 ¾-length victory. He completed the 1 1/4-mile event over a firm turf course in a final time of 1:59.31.

Soldier Rising was second, a head in front of Ottoman Fleet in third.

“He got into a perfect position and was settled,” Pletcher said. “We saw a few horses that we anticipated would be the pacesetters. He fell into a nice rhythm. He was just waiting on Irad to cue him when to go. He handled the mile and a quarter. He did remarkably well.” 

Up to the Mark entered the Manhattan off of a 3 ¾-length win in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs May 6. He improved his record to 5-0-2 from 10 starts.–Karen Johnson

Earlier Races

Elite Power (Eclipse Sportswire)

In earlier graded stakes at Belmont Park, Next won the $250,000, Grade 2 Brooklyn Stakes on the front end and Emmanuel posted a mild upset in the $200,000, Grade 3 Poker Stakes, rallying late under Irad Ortiz Jr. to defeat pacesetter Filo Di Arianna and odds-on favorite Chez Pierre. In the Brooklyn, Luan Machado flew in from Kentucky to ride Next, and the young jockey patiently handled his mount during the early stages en route to an impressive victory in the 1 ½-mile marathon.

The day’s action started out with an overpowering win by Elite Power in the $250,000, Grade 2 True North Stakes. Elite Power, winner of last year’s Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint, made his first start since winning the Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia in February and scored by a geared-down 1 ¾ lengths as the 3-4 favorite. Elite Power, trained by Bill Mott, won his seventh race in a row, all of the victories coming by 1 ¼ lengths or more.