Cody's Wish rattles off machine-like work ahead of Whitney stretch out

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — On a Saturday morning when there were more than 350 recorded workouts at Saratoga, Cody’s Wish nearly had the Oklahoma training track to himself shortly after 9:30 a.m.

“It looked like at 7:30 everybody on the grounds worked, and not a lot of people work at 9:30,” trainer Bill Mott said.

Those who were at the Oklahoma training track got a treat as Cody’s Wish worked five furlongs in 1:00.00, in preparation for his next engagement in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes on Aug. 5.

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Under exercise rider Neil Poznanasky, Cody’s Wish went an opening eighth in 12.53 seconds, a quarter in 24.50 and he got his final three furlongs in 35.50. Cody’s Wish galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.11 and seven furlongs in 1:26.42.

“Looked like a machine,” Mott said. “That’s race-horse time when they go seven-eighths. That’s what good horses can do.”

Cody’s Wish is the arguably the best horse in training. He’s won nine of his last 10 starts including four consecutive Grade 1 stakes. Most recently, he won the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap by 3 1/4 lengths at Belmont on June 10.

Cody’s Wish has time for two more works before the Whitney, which will be just his second try at 1 1/8 miles. In July 2021, he finished third in a maiden race at that distance.

Cody’s Wish was perhaps the top name on a star-studded roster of workers on an extremely busy Saturday morning.

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