Ron Wood
Show Bio
The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile starts at 2.30 pm ET on Saturday, November 4 at Santa Anita racetrack, and all eyes will be on whether Cody’s Wish can make it a winning finale before retiring. Expert horse racing handicapper Ron Wood, who has over two decades of knowledge and experience picking winning horses, gives his full horse-by-horse guide to the big race before delivering his best bet and analysis.
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile 2023 Entries & Post Positions
The entries and post positions for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile 2023 are as follows:
1 Stage Raider
3 Cody’s Wish
4 Zozos
5 Charge It
6 Skippylongstocking
8 Shirl’s Bee
9 National Treasure
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile 2023 Predictions & Morning Line Odds
Stage Raider 25-1
Didn’t progress for Chad Brown; however, has had just two starts for this trainer (former assistant to Brown); minor stakes win at Ellis before second off slow pace behind front-running Zozos in Grade 3 Ack Ack at Churchill Downs, running as well as could be expected in the circumstances; needs a big career best but he’s a half-brother to 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify.
Cody’s Wish 5-6
Typically not a quick starter; came from off fast pace to win this at Keeneland last year; two more Grade 1 wins this term, but struggled after an awkward beginning when upped to 1m1f in the Whitney at Saratoga; back in winning form in 7f Grade 2 Vosburgh at Aqueduct latest, labored in picking up but the slow pace was against him; winner of his last 10 starts at up to this trip and has been training with good energy.
Zozos 7-1
Front-runner; set slow pace when winning 1m Grade 3 Ack Ack at Churchill Downs latest; beating this field will be tougher and he needs a career-best, but trainer was 9-31 at the Breeders’ Cup ahead of this year’s meeting.
Charge It 11-1
Has more ability than he shows a lot of the time, a high-class worker in the mornings and a 23-length winner of last year’s 1m Grade 3 Dwyer at Belmont where he recorded a fast time; mainly frustrating this year, for all that he did win 1m2f Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont; didn’t seem to like being crowded on last couple of starts; blinkers are taken off.
Skippylongstocking 11-1
Most recently won 1m1f Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, getting an easy lead which he won’t be afforded now but he doesn’t have to dominate; has won four lesser Graded races than this; the pick of his speed figures give him a chance.
Shirl’s Bee 66-1
Three starts, two in Dubai where he was highly regarded by Doug Watson, winning a maiden at odds-on and finishing second (again favorite) in Group 3 UAE 2,000 Guineas, both over 1m; didn’t help himself by being headstrong and that was again the case when well beaten on US debut (pulled hard under hold-up ride); however, he’d been off 225 days and 9.5f was too far; has worked sharply since and Saez replaces Leparoux; he’ll likely show more now.
National Treasure 8-1
Recorded a relatively modest time when front-running winner of the 9.5f Grade 1 Preakness at Pimlico in May (second leg of the Triple Crown); hasn’t progressed, most recently finishing weakly after stalking the speed in 1m1f Grade 1 Awesome Again here; needs to up his game.
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile 2023 Picks & Best Bet: Cody’s Wish 5-6
This is the first of nine championship races on day two of the 2023 Breeders’ Cup, and it’ll be ‘fast and firm’ in the sunshine at Santa Anita. Despite a depleted field for this Dirt Mile, there should be pace in the race and if last year’s winner CODY’S WISH gives his true running he will most likely have too much for these rivals who are about Grade 2 standard at best. He comes in off a defeat and an unconvincing prep win in his last couple of starts, so there are doubts, but a slow pace didn’t give him a chance to show his best last time.
