Dreams of thoroughbred racing glory sometimes do come true, but when that happens for a special person on an international stage, it’s an unforgettable emotional experience.
“There’s a big story behind it,” trainer Bill Mott noted today at the Breeders Cup, and that’s an understatement.
The amazing tale of Cody Dorman, a 16-year-old with a rare genetic disorder called Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, and the thoroughbred he loves highlights the power of the equine-human connection.
The two met when the horse was a foal at Godolphin’s Gainsborough farm. It happened in connection with the Keeneland racetrack’s Make-a-Wish day. Cody’s wish was to be introduced to a thoroughbred, which is how he got together with the son of the great Curlin.
Cody’s Wish and Cody Dorman share a special relationship. (Photo courtesy WKYT)
The foal, who usually was a bit stand-offish, recognized a soulmate and put his head in Cody’s lap. Boy and horse bonded instantly.It was only natural for the farm to come up with the name Cody’s Wish for the colt.
Cody Dorman wanted to be at every race in which the horse was entered, believing that is a prerequisite for the colt to enjoy victory.
Although Cody can only communicate using a tablet that works with eye-tracking, he makes his desires known. The teen has had more than 40 operations and suffers seizures, but nothing keeps him down.
“You cannot talk about him without talking about his heart. It’s not in him to quit on anything,” said Kelly Dorman, Cody’s father, who considers the Godolphin crew to be family now.
Cody has been cheering the beloved horse on ever since the eye-catching bay first went to the track. When Cody Dorman comes to the barn, Cody’s Wish immediately locks eyes on him.
In August, Cody’s Wish won the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga. The Breeders’ Cup was in his future, and Cody Dorman focused on that championship competition. Of course, he was at the track for it today.
The relationship with Cody’s Wish has brightened the teen’s outlook.
“We can see such a difference in him. Cody was in a very dark place and this horse has changed his life,” said his mother, Leslie Dorman.
For her son, the outcome of this afternoon’s $1 million Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile at Keeneland was never in doubt.
“He will win,” predicted Cody. And that was just what happened.
Cody’s Wish at the wire. (© Dylan Buell/Getty Images North America/TNS)
Cody’s Wish, a four-year-old carrying 126 pounds who was sent off as the favorite, and Cyberknife, the three-year-old winner of last summer’s Haskell Invitational carrying three pounds less, battled it out in the stretch until Cody’s Wish had the edge by a head at the wire.
It happened the way one would envision the storybook ending if it had been written to wrap up the script.
In the spirit of the moment, Florent Geroux, Cyberknife’s jockey, gave a post-finish line fistbump to Junior Alvarado, who rode Cody’s Wish. It was a magic moment, illustrating an understanding of how much the victory meant.
As Cody’s Wish headed toward the winner’s circle, everyone was crying; not just Cody and his family, but so many in the packed stands at the Kentucky racetrack who saw not only a great race, but what some might call a miracle. Can the movie be far behind?