Breeders’ Cup Replay | 2023 Dirt Mile: Cody’s Wish Narrowly Defeats National Treasure For Title Defense

Cody’s Wish won the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Park, narrowly defeating the Preakness Stakes (G1) champion National Treasure to defend his title.

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Watch the race replay here:

The press release:

Godolphin’s homebred Cody’s Wish ($3.60) survived a late stretch duel with National Treasure and a claim of foul to successfully defend his title by a nose in the 17th running of the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) for 3-year-olds and up to kick off the second day of the World Championships at Santa Anita.

Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, Cody’s Wish covered the mile on a fast track in 1:35.97. Cody’s Wish joins Goldencents (2013-2014) as the only back-to-back winners of the race. It is Mott’s 14th Breeders’ Cup victory and the third for Alvarado and the second of the weekend for both.

National Treasure, winner of this year’s Preakness (G1), set an uncontested pace as Cody’s Wish trailed the field of seven early. On the backstretch, Alvarado began to close in and by the time the field was in the far turn, Cody’s Wish had moved into third.

National Treasure maintained his advantage until inside the eighth pole when Cody’s Wish ranged up alongside with the two racing as a team and exchanging bumps to the wire where Cody’s Wish narrowly prevailed.

It was another 3 ¾ lengths back to Skippylongstocking in third.

The victory was worth $520,000 and improved Cody’s Wish’s earnings to $2,965,230 with a record of 16-11-1-4 with five Grade 1 victories.

Cody’s Wish is a Kentucky-bred son of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Curlin out of the Tapit mare Dance Card.