Which Equestrian Racehorse Will Win the 2023 Horse of the Year After Prestigious Breeders’ Cup Win?

One of the American Thoroughbred racing top attended events, the Breeders Cup, has brought some potential contestants to the fore. Having started in 1984, the iconic equestrian event witnessed some phenoms in action at Santa Anita Park in 2023. But the event, besides serving thrill, secretly shortlisted the horse candidates for the highest honor.

As the equestrian jockeys get nominated for the Eclipse award on account of their winning streak, the equines run to top the charts too. Having said so, the Horse of the Year award is knocking at the doors. And the horse racing world has already started to place bets. Which racehorse would clinch the Horse of the Year title?

Which horse will come out victorious?

According to Horse Racing Nation’s X post, the caption reads, “Horse of the Year? It’s a close call between White Abarrio and Cody’s Wish.” Starting with White Abarrio, the four-year-old male has won the recent Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park on November 4. Outclassing competitors, the jockey-equine duo jumped to the $6 million finish (2:02:87). 

On the other hand, there’s the multiple Grade 1 winning racehorse Cody’s Wish, whose accolades go beyond just racing. On November 4, at the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile, the equine clocked a time of 1:35:97 to clinch the win. Besides, his 2023 season has four wins out of five starts, for the second consecutive year. Though it’s hard to draw a comparison between the 4-year-old and the 5-year-old, we consider their statistics.

The older has a 4 wins out of 5 advantage, where Abarrio stands with three out of five wins. In terms of Grade 1, the former has three wins, whereas the latter has two. But when it comes to counting coins, the Breeders Cup Classic victor has more million dollars than his older counterpart this season. Speaking of the 10th June Met Mile event, Cody’s Wish triumphed as a clear favorite, but White Abarrio trailed in third, despite an initial stumble.

More information to take your equestrian picks

Two unpleasant races of each, the Whitney (G1) for the older rival and Pegasus World Cup (G1) for the younger. Soon after, both the horses made up for the loss of their BC victories. Rick Dutrow anchored White Abarrio to win one of the nation’s most prestigious dirt race. On the other hand, Cody Dorman, after whom Cody’s Wish was named, received warmth from the equine till his last breath.

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Though both the stories have the heart-wrenching element, it’s tough to make a call. Moreover, even if Abarrio’s chances may lie, the likely outcome would be Cody’s Wish. What do you think?

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