Long shot White Abarrio wins 96th running of the Whitney...

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Cody’s Wish, the horse that millions have come to love because of his racing ability and his association with his namesake, Cody Dorman, failed to overcome a bad start and was never able to mount a challenge to White Abarrio, the winner of the 96th running of the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course with a Whitney-day record 43,788 patrons looking on Saturday afternoon. The previous mark was 40,791 in 2019.

As a result, White Abarrio earned himself a free nomination and entry fee to the $6 million, Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic to be run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Cal. on Nov. 4.

Dorman, a 17-year-old who suffers from Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, has received inspiration from the horse that brought a record of nine wins from 13 starts into the $1 million, Grade I Whitney that was contested at nine furlongs.

The 4-year-old colt by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin from the Tapit mare Dance Card was apparently unprepared for the start of the Whitney when he was leaning against the outside wall of his stall in the starting gate. He seemed to lose his footing temporarily and gave the five rivals to his left a head start.

Junior Alvarado, his rider, allowed him to follow the field around the Clubhouse turn. When they got to the backstretch, Alvarado took his charge off the rail and started to pick up ground on his opponents. The rider set his colt down to make a challenge around the Union Avenue turn and entered the stretch in fourth place in a battle with Zandon, the eventual second-place finisher.

By that time White Abarrio was loose on a five-length lead with leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. at his controls. Despite drifting in the stretch, White Abarrio crossed the finish line 6-1/4 lengths ahead of Zandon who had out-dueled Cody’s Wish by 3-3/4 lengths. Charge It, Giant Game — the leader for...