War Like Goddess may be horse to beat in BC Turf
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Unbeaten at the distance, undefeated at Keeneland and now with a victory against males, the 5-year-old mare War Like Goddess may have established herself as North America’s top contender for the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.
In winning Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic by 2 3/4 lengths over Bye Bye Melvin, War Like Goddess improved her record to 5 for 5 at 1 1/2 miles, the distance of the Breeders’ Cup Turf. War Like Goddess ran 1 1/2 miles in 2:27.29 and earned a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance.
War Like Goddess is 2 for 2 at Keeneland, having won the Grade 3 Bewitch at 1 1/2 miles each of the last two years.
Noting that he’s trained a lot of turf females in his Hall of Fame career, Bill Mott said “there’s not that many we’ve been brave enough to run against the boys. I just had a lot of confidence in her. She’s got such an explosiveness run to her. She’s just pretty special.”
War Like Goddess, a daughter of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner English Channel, improved her career record to 9 wins from 12 starts. She was the beaten favorite in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, the result of a premature move. Her lone loss from three starts this year came by a neck in the Flower Bowl when she got trapped inside for too long and couldn’t run down a loose-on-the-lead Virginia Joy.
Mott said War Like Goddess’ 2-for-2 record at Keeneland isn’t as important to him as the fact War Like Goddess has shown success over a less-than-firm Keeneland turf course.
“She’s won over soft ground before, there’s always a good possibility you’re going to get soft ground the first week of November in Kentucky,” Mott said. “If you get a lot of rain, it’s not going to firm up.”
Perhaps the only question relating to War Like Goddess is who her rider will be in the Breeders’ Cup. Joel Rosario rode War Like Goddess in her first three starts this year. He had commitments to ride at Keeneland on Saturday, so Jose Lezcano was aboard for the Joe Hirsch victory.
Mott said he would have that discussion in the near future with owner George Krikorian.
Graham Motion, the trainer of Bye Bye Melvin, told the New York Racing Association publicity department that his horse will likely target the Breeders Cup Turf.
“I feel like there’s no reason not to give it a try,” said Motion, who trains Bye Bye Melvin for Alex Campbell. “It’s Mr. Campbell’s home track, and this is what it’s all about.”
Meanwhile, trainer Christophe Clement remained puzzled by Gufo’s last-place finish in the Joe Hirsch. He was three- to four-wide throughout, but never offered any type of kick under Junior Alvarado.
“I need a little bit of time, I need to see how he comes out of the race, I need to think about the whole deal,” Clement said. “I don’t think he did much running. I think it was a puzzling, obviously disappointing performance. Regroup, reassess and go from there.”
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