Walter Wlodarczyk Photo

Mott contingent leads New York-based contenders at Breeders’ Cup

by Mary Eddy

The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships slated for Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, will see a host of New York-based horses compete across the two-day, 14-race event, led by a strong hand for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Mott, 70, resides in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. where he retains an elite string of trainees from April through November at Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma training track. This year, six Mott trainees will represent their conditioner at the Breeders’ Cup.

Leading the charge for Mott is Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Cody’s Wish, who vies to successfully defend his title in the Grade 1 Dirt Mile after taking last year’s edition by a head over Cyberknife. Last year, Mott sent out fellow Breeders’ Cup aspirant and reigning Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power to win the Grade 2 Vosburgh at Belmont at the Big A en route to a victory in the Grade 1 Sprint, but this year, it was Cody’s Wish who took the seven-furlong Vosburgh as a prep for the Dirt Mile, not the Sprint.

The Dirt Mile is slated to be the career finale for Cody’s Wish, who will take up stud duty next season at Darley’s Jonabell Farm in Lexington, K.Y.

“He’s been a real gift in a lot of different ways and it would be nice if he could go out with a bang,” said Mott.

Cody’s Wish is named after teenager Cody Dorman, who was born with the rare genetic disorder Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome and is unable to walk or communicate without utilizing a tablet. The story of the two Codys, who share a unique bond, has captured the hearts of many in the bay’s three seasons of racing.

In addition to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, Cody’s Wish’s fairy tale resume includes Grade 1 scores in the Spa’s Forego, the Churchill Downs at its namesake track and a dazzling 3 1/4-length score in the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap in June that garnered a 112 Beyer.

In the Grade 1 Sprint, Juddmonte’s Kentucky homebred Elite Power also seeks a title defense after taking last year’s event by 1 1/4 lengths over C Z Rocket.

The chestnut son of Curlin made an impressive ascent to the top of his division last year with his Vosburgh and Breeders’ Cup scores, leading to him being crowned the Champion Male Sprinter. This season, he won the Group 3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in March at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia before heading back to the states to score a pair of wins in the Empire State in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont Park and the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt by a head over Gunite at the Spa where he earned a career-high 108 Beyer.

Last out, Elite Power had his win streak broken by Gunite, who turned the tables on his familiar foe and defeated him by 1 3/4 lengths in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga. Like Cody’s Wish, Elite Power will be making his final career start at the Breeders’ Cup before retiring to stud at his owner’s farm in Lexington for the 2024 breeding season.

“It’s pretty gratifying when you have one reach that level,” said Mott. “Any time you get a horse that can reach that Grade 1 level and put back-to-back races together [is special].”

Mott also brings a pair of formidable contenders in the turf division in George Krikorian’s multiple Grade 1-winner War Like Goddess and LRE Racing and JEH Racing’s Casa Creed.

War Like Goddess, a 6-year-old daughter of English Channel, returns to the Breeders’ Cup via a similar route as last year after taking the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic against males for a second consecutive year on October 7 at Belmont at the Big A. The talented bay finished a rallying third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf, which she will contest again this year.

This year, War Like Goddess posted a decisive victory in the Joe Hirsch by 4 1/2 lengths one start after a neck loss to McKulick in the Grade 2 Glens Falls at Saratoga, an event she won the prior two years. For each of her Joe Hirsch victories, she earned a career-best 105 Beyer.

Mott said War Like Goddess is in fine fettle as she prepares to take on a strong field in the 1 1/2-mile Turf that will likely include top European contenders Auguste Rodin, Mostahdaf and Bolshoi Ballet.

“She’s doing very good. She came back with a great effort to beat the boys,” said Mott. “The Turf will be tough, but we’ll try and beat some Euros.”

Casa Creed, who Mott said is “training good,” enters the Grade 1 Mile off back-to-back graded victories at Saratoga, most recently earning a repeat score in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap on August 12.

The 7-year-old son of Jimmy Creed, who also won the Grade 3 Kelso on July 15, has hit the board in his other two starts this year when third in the Grade 1 Jaipur in June and second defeated a head in the Group 3 1351 Turf Sprint in February at King Abdulaziz.

The evergreen Casa Creed, who has won four Grade 1s over his six seasons of racing, will contest a Breeders’ Cup race for the fourth time and finished a respective 12th and ninth in the 2020-21 Mile, as well as ninth in last year’s Grade 1 Turf Sprint.

On the November 3 Future Stars Friday card, Mott will be represented by two talented fillies as George Krikorian’s Kentucky homebred Just F Y I takes on the Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies while Arnmore Thoroughbreds and Even Keel Thoroughbreds’ Gala Brand goes to the Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Just F Y I, a daughter of 2018 Triple Crown Champion Justify, is undefeated through two starts for Mott, and garnered Grade 1 glory last out with a dominant victory in the Frizette on October 7 at Belmont at the Big A, awarding her a berth into the Breeders’ Cup. Just F Y I was a rallying winner of her August 26 debut at the Spa and backed up that performance with her eye-catching Frizette coup.

“She handled it well and looked good finishing up her race,” said Mott. “She finished strong and crossed the wire and looked like she was lengthening her stride rather than shortening up. That was good.”

Graded stakes-winner Gala Brand defeated male rivals in the August 31 Grade 3 With Anticipation at the Spa, but faced a troubled trip last out in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo where she raced four-wide down the backstretch before tucking in before going wide again and splitting rivals belatedly to be fourth 4 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Hard to Justify.

“I don’t know that she had a great trip,” said Mott. “She got a ways back and put in a good run. She could use a little more pace.”

Gala Brand, a flashy daughter of Violence with distinct white markings on her legs and underside, won a restricted maiden special weight on debut at the Spa ahead of her half-length With Anticipation score. She was purchased for $30,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

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Fellow New York-based Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will also be represented by a host of talented trainees, led by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s multiple Grade 1-winner Up to the Mark in the Grade 1 Turf.

The Not This Time dark bay enters on a three-race win streak, all in Grade 1 events, that began with a 3 3/4-length triumph in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic on May 6 at Churchill Downs. He followed with another strong victory in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan on June 10 at Belmont before a summer respite that lasted until his latest score in the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile on October 7 in thrilling fashion, posting a late-running nose score over Master of The Seas.

The same ownership will be represented in the Grade 1 Classic as Bright Future looks to double up on top-level scores after a breakout win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 2 at the Spa. The son of Curlin earned his spot in the Breeders’ Cup’s marquee event via the “Win and You’re In” challenge series for his nose win over returning rival Proxy in the Gold Cup.

Joining Bright Future in the Classic is Dreamlike, who was narrowly defeated by Saudi Crown in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on September 23 at Parx Racing.

Whisper Hill Farm’s Grade 2 Suburban-winner Charge It, who was last seen finishing an even fourth in the Grade 2 Woodward on October 1 at Belmont at the Big A, has entered the Dirt Mile.

A majority of Pletcher’s Breeders’ Cup hopes lie on Future Stars Friday, where Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity winner Locked takes on the Grade 1 Juvenile for owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm. The Gun Runner chestnut touted his ability early with dominant 7 1/4-length maiden score at second asking on September 1 at Saratoga.

Repole Stables’ Kentucky homebred Fierceness, who was also an open-lengths maiden winner this summer at the Spa, finished seventh at the favorite in the Breeders’ Futurity and takes another swing at his first stakes conquest in the Juvenile.

On the female side, Pletcher sends out Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ undefeated Candied, out of the New York-bred mare Toni Tools, in the Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies off am impressive one-length victory in the Grade 1 Alcibiades on October 6 at Keeneland.

Pletcher is also represented by Repole Stable’s Grade 1 Frizette third-place finisher Life Talk and maiden Scalable in the Juvenile Fillies.

Repole Stable and Pletcher will be represented by Grade 2 Miss Grillo-winner Life’s an Audible in the Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies Turf, graded stakes-placed Noted in the Grade 1 Juvenile and Grade 2 Pilgrim-winner Agate Road, who is co-owned by St. Elias Stable, in the Grade 1 Juvenile Turf.

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Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, who has won 16 Breeders’ Cup events, has once again readied a string of top contenders for the year-end Championships, led by Jeff Drown’s dual graded stakes-winner Zandon. The 4-year-old son of Upstart likely makes his final appearance on the racetrack in the Grade 1 Classic after posting an impressive 4 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Woodward on October 1 at Belmont at the Big A.

Zandon, who will retire to Spendthrift Farm for stud duties in 2024, won last year’s Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland and has hit the board in 8-of-9 starts since, including his Woodward win and Grade 1 placings when third in the Kentucky Derby and Travers, and second in the Pennsylvania Derby, Metropolitan Handicap and Whitney.

First Row Partners and Hanley Racing’s reigning Champion Female Sprinter Goodnight Olive returns to defend her title in the Grade 1 Filly and Mare Sprint on the heels of a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Ballerina on August 26 at the Spa. The daughter of Ghostzapper has never been off the board in 11 lifetime outings.

Klaravich Stables’ top 3-year-olds filly Randomized will look to put an exclamation point on a stellar campaign after graded wins in the Grade 1 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales in August at Saratoga and a last-out victory in the Grade 2 Beldame on October 8 at Belmont at the Big A. The daughter of Nyquist rides a three-race win streak into the Breeders’ Cup that includes her two graded wins and a score in the restricted Wilton in July at the Spa.

Klaravich Stables will also be represented in the Distaff by multiple graded stakes-winner Search Results, who was last seen winning the Grade 3 Locust Grove on September 16 at Churchill and will vie for her first Grade 1 since taking the 2021 Acorn at Belmont.

In the Grade 1 Juvenile, Klaravich Stables’ General Partner will make just his fourth lifetime outing on the heels of a pacesetting runner-up effort to Timberlake in the one-mile Grade 1 Champagne on October 7 at Belmont at the Big A.

In the female juvenile group, Wise Racing’s Hard to Justify looks to keep her perfect record intact in the Juvenile Fillies Turf after a half-length score last out in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo on October 4 at Belmont at the Big A.

As usual, Brown also has a formidable hand in the Filly and Mare Turf with Grade 1-winners In Italian for owner Peter Brant and Klaravich Stables’ McKulick. In Italian was a last-out runner-up in the Grade 1 First Lady on October 7 at Keeneland where she was headed out of the win by Gina Romantica, while McKulick enters from a score in the Grade 3 Fasig-Tipton Waya over yielding footing on October 7. Peter Brant’s Gina Romantica will take on the boys in the Mile.

Rounding out Brown’s string is graded stakes-winner Adhamo, who takes on the Turf.

The Wine Steward represents the New York-bred program at this year’s Breeders’ Cup:

The New York-bred program will be represented this year by Grade 1-placed The Wine Steward as he takes on the Juvenile for trainer Mike Maker.

The Wine Steward, bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm and Mark Toothaker, was a close second last out to Locked in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, which marked his first loss in four outings. Owned by Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher, the son of 2019 Breeders’ Cup Classic-winner Vino Rosso won on debut against state-breds in May at Belmont Park and followed with stakes scores in the Bashford Manor against open company in July at Ellis Park and state-bred Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in August at the Spa.

A closer look at NYRA-based trainers with starters at the Breeders' Cup:

Jorge Abreu will have a chance to earn both his first Breeders’ Cup score and graded victory with the undefeated Jody’s Pride in the Juvenile Fillies. Abreu finished third in the 2018 Juvenile Fillies Turf with Stellar Agent.

Jena Antonucci sends out dual Grade 1-winner Arcangelo as the favorite for the Classic and her first Breeders’ Cup starter. The son of Arrogate looks to secure Champion honors after wins this year in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and Grade 1 Travers.

Hall of Famer Mark Casse has won six Breeders’ Cup events and is represented this year with Can Group and My Boy Prince in the Juvenile Turf, Go with Gusto in the Juvenile Fillies Turf [cross-entered in the Qatar Golden Mile on the undercard], Get Smokin’ in the Turf, Lucky Score in the Mile and Fev Rover in the Filly and Mare Turf.

New York-bred conditioner Christophe Clement scored his first Breeders’ Cup victory two years ago with Pizza Bianca in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. This year, he sends out Grade 1-winner Carson’s Run in the Juvenile Turf, and Big Invasion and Roses for Debra in the Turf Sprint.

Two-time Eclipse Award-winner and nine-time Breeders’ Cup-winner Brad Cox brings another strong hand this year as he is represented by Saudi Crown in the Classic and a trio of top contenders in Idiomatic, Wet Paint and A Mo Reay in the Distaff, as well as defending winner Caravel in the Turf Sprint. Cox’s other contenders are Grade 1 Champagne-winner Timberlake in the Juvenile, Zozos in the Dirt Mile and Matareya in the Filly and Mare Sprint.

Three-time Breeders’ Cup-winner Rick Dutrow, Jr. will send out this year’s Grade 1 Whitney-winner White Abarrio as a top contender in this year’s Classic. Dutrow, Jr. will have his first starter at the Breeders’ Cup since 2010.

Three-time Breeders’ Cup-winner Mike Maker will be represented by the aforementioned New York-bred The Wine Steward in the Juvenile, as well as Liam’s Journey in the Juvenile Turf and Buttercream Babe in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Chad Summers will attempt his first Breeders’ Cup victory in the Classic with multiple graded stakes-winner Clapton. Summers finished third in the 2017 Sprint with New York-bred Mind Your Biscuits.

Multiple Grade 1-winning trainer George Weaver has an impressive string of juveniles ready to give him a solid chance at his first win at the Breeders’ Cup. Weaver sends out a trio of talented 2-year-olds in the Juvenile Turf Sprint as Amidst Waves and Crimson Advocate take on the boys alongside No Nay Mets.

New York-based riders will feature prominently at the Breeders' Cup:

Junior Alvarado: Cody’s Wish [Dirt Mile], Just F Y I [Juvenile Fillies], War Like Goddess [Turf]

Javier Castellano: Arcangelo [Classic], Fev Rover [Filly and Mare Turf]

Dylan Davis: Carson’s Run [Juvenile Turf]

Manny Franco: General Partner [Juvenile], Laulne [Juvenile Fillies Turf], Liam’s Journey [Juvenile Turf]

Jose Lezcano: Gear Jockey [Turf Sprint]

Irad Ortiz, Jr.: Agate Road [Juvenile Turf], Elite Power [Sprint], Goodnight Olive [Filly and Mare Sprint], Life Talk [Juvenile Fillies], Life’s an Audible [Juvenile Fillies Turf], Lucky Score [Mile], McKulick [Filly and Mare Turf], No Nay Mets [Juvenile Turf Sprint], Noted [Juvenile], Roses for Debra [Turf Sprint], Search Results [Distaff], Twilight Gleaming [Turf Sprint, AE], Up to the Mark [Turf], White Abarrio [Classic]

Jose Ortiz: Dreamlike [Classic], Gala Brand [Juvenile Fillies Turf], Locked [Juvenile], Randomized [Distaff], Scalable [Juvenile Fillies]

Flavien Prat: Adhamo [Turf], Amidst Waves [Juvenile Turf Sprint], Arabian Knight [Classic], Beer Can Man [Turf Sprint, AE] Can Group [Juvenile Turf], Du Jour [Mile], Fulmineo [Juvenile Turf], Hard to Justify [Juvenile Fillies Turf], Jody’s Pride [Juvenile Fillies], Matareya [Filly and Mare Sprint], Moira [Filly and Mare Turf], Motorious [Turf Sprint], National Treasure [Dirt Mile], Prince of Monaco [Juvenile], Wet Paint [Distaff]

Joel Rosario: April Vintage [Juvenile Turf Sprint, AE], Big Invasion [Turf Sprint], Clairiere [Distaff], Go With Gusto [Juvenile Fillies Turf, AE], In Italian [Filly and Mare Turf], More Than Looks [Mile], My Boy Prince [Juvenile Turf], Proxy [Classic]

Luis Saez: Air Recruit [Juvenile Turf], Arzak [Turf Sprint], Buttercream Babe [Juvenile Fillies Turf], Candied [Juvenile Fillies], Casa Creed [Mile], Hoosier Philly [Distaff], Missed the Cut [Classic], Nakatomi [Sprint], Shirl’s Bee [Dirt Mile], The Wine Steward [Juvenile], Three Witches [Filly and Mare Sprint]

John Velazquez: Accommodate Eva [Juvenile Fillies], Bolshoi Ballet [Turf], Bright Future [Classic], Charge It [Dirt Mile], Crimson Advocate [Juvenile Turf Sprint], Fierceness [Juvenile], Hoist the Gold [Sprint], She Feels Pretty [Juvenile Fillies Turf], Shirl’s Speight [Mile], Tok Tok [Juvenile Turf]

A total of 14 Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge races were contested at NYRA tracks in 2023:

TRACK – DATE – RACE – WINNER – WAYI

Belmont Park, June 10 – Jaipur – Caravel [Turf Sprint]

Belmont Park, June 10 – Ogden Phipps – Clairiere [Distaff]

Belmont Park, June 10 – Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap – Cody’s Wish [Dirt Mile]

Saratoga, August 5 – Whitney – White Abarrio [Classic]

Saratoga, August 12 – Fourstardave Handicap – Casa Creed [Mile]

Saratoga, August 26 – Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational – Bolshoi Ballet [Turf]

Saratoga, August 26 – Ballerina – Echo Zulu [Filly & Mare Sprint]

Saratoga, September 2 – Jockey Club Gold Cup – Bright Future [Classic]

Saratoga, September 2 – Flower Bowl Invitational – Parnac [Filly and Mare Turf]

Belmont at the Big A, October 1 – Vosburgh – Cody’s Wish [Sprint]

Belmont at the Big A, October 4 – Miss Grillo – Hard to Justify [Juvenile Fillies Turf]

Belmont at the Big A, October 4 – Pilgrim – Agate Road [Juvenile Turf]

Belmont at the Big A, October 7 – Champagne – Timberlake [Juvenile]

Belmont at the Big A, October 7 – Frizette – Just F Y I [Juvenile Fillies]

All Breeders’ Cup races will be available for wagering on NYRABets.com, including multi-race options on both days.

Race order for “Future Stars Friday” will start with four undercard races, followed by the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint [5 p.m. Eastern]; the $2 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies [5:40 p.m.]; the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf [6:20 p.m.]; the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance [7 p.m.] and the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf [7:40 p.m.].

Championship Saturday begins with two undercard races followed by the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile [2:30 p.m.]; the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf [3:10 p.m.]; the $1 million PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint [3:50 p.m.]; the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by PDJF [4:30 p.m.]; the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff [5:10 p.m.]; the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf [5:50 p.m.]; the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic [6:40 p.m.]; the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint [7:25 p.m.]; and the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint [8 p.m.].  

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.