Cody’s Wish wins G2 Vosburgh Stakes
- 02 Oct 2023
Cody’s Wish put his Whitney Stakes defeat firmly behind him as he comfortably saw off Accretive in the G2 Vosburgh Stakes at Aqueduct in US on Sunday.
Dropping back to seven furlongs, Cody’s Wish was slow from the gates and raced in a clear last before Junior Alvarado rushed the four-time G1 winner around the field to sit a three-quarter length second at the halfway point.
Cody’s Wish joined Accretive in front turning in and established a slender advantage at the top of the straight, with Great Navigator also launching a challenge down the inside rail.
Accretive and Cody’s Wish went on passing the furlong-pole, with the Bill Mott-trained five-year-old drawing away in the closing strides to score by a length and a half.
Cody’s Wish warmed up for the defence of his Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile crown with a straightforward victory in the G2 Vosburgh Stakes at Aqueduct on Sunday.
Junior Alvarado said: “Cody’s Wish was much the best horse today. He has been drawn on the outside for his last two starts and we were hoping that it was a case of ‘load and go’, but I think loading him last is making him break worse than before.
“After that, I nudged him a little bit and I knew that he was going to put himself in a good position. When I turned for home, I had the Cody’s Wish that I know.”
Bill Mott said: “It’s great to have Cody’s Wish back in the winner’s circle. We would have been really disappointed had he not been able to handle this group. I thought he did it well enough was getting away from them at the wire. Turning for home, that other horse [Accretive] gave him a little bit of a tussle, but past the eighth pole, it looked like he showed up.”
Caramel Swirl awarded G2 Gallant Bloom: Caramel Swirl was called the winner of the G2 Gallant Bloom Stakes by the stewards following a remarkable double disqualification in the Aqueduct sprint.
After breaking on terms, Caramel Swirl raced in a close last of the six runners for much of the extended six-furlong contest as Headland made the running.
Caramel Swirl quickened up the inner rail entering the straight and soon disputed second with Beguine and Sterling Silver, with the trio looking to reel in Headland a furlong a half from home.
Sterling Silver crossed both Beguine and Caramel Swirl as she went second entering the final furlong, before Headland shifted out to further impede the Godolphin runner.
Junior Alvarado had to snatch up Caramel Swirl but the Bill Mott-trained mare rallied close home to cross the line in third behind Sterling Silver and Headland.
Following a lengthy stewards’ enquiry, Sterling Silver was disqualified and placed second for interference, with Headland demoted to third for the same reason.
Bill Mott said: “Caramel Swirl had trained really well ahead of this. She trained well going into the Ballerina and ran a good race there, when three G1 winners finished in front of her. She’s a notch under that class but is a good filly.”
Elsewhere, favourite Ace Impact gave trainer Jean-Claude Rouget and jockey Cristian Demuro their second win in four years in Europe’s most prestigious race the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Demuro had trouble getting aboard the horse before the race but had no problems during it as he came home clear, the Italian rising out of the saddle to salute the crowd.
