War Like Goddess runs over Glens Falls field
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- War Like Goddess stepped up her game and stepped into the upper echelon of the older filly and mare turf division with a devastatingly easy 3 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga.
Making her first start in 106 days, War Like Goddess was pulling early on jockey Julien Leparoux, who kept the 4-year-old English Channel filly well off the leader, which is her custom. The pace was modest as Dalika, winner of the Robert G. Dick Memorial last out in Delaware, was four lengths clear after running a mile in 1:38.34 under Miguel Mena.
As the field inched closer Dalika entering the far turn, Leparoux gradually moved War Like Goddess to the outside. Turning into the lane she was six wide, but had yet to be asked for run. Leparoux merely shook the reins at War Like Goddess, who cruised past the field in the lane and, without ever feeling the whip, won in hand.
War Like Goddess, trained by Bill Mott for owner George Krikorian, covered the 1 1/2 miles over firm turf in 2:27.55 and returned $3.70. She earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure
War Like Goddess added the Glens Falls to victories earlier in the year in the Grade 3 Orchid at Gulfstream and Grade 3 Bewitch at Keeneland.
“She showed a tremendous kick at the end previously, “ Leparoux said. “Today, she broke good, we got bumped and we were last because of the little bump at the beginning. A little fresh, but she still had the kick, which was nice to see. She just win easy today. I think she’s going to improve from it, we’ll see.”
My Sister Nat, second to Civil Union in last year’s Glens Falls, was second again, by a neck over Temple City Terror. Luck Money was fourth, followed by the pacesetting Dalika, Orglandes, and Call Me Love.
The freshening Mott gave War Like Goddess after her victory in the Bewitch was by design. Mott, who won the Glens Falls for a sixth time, wanted to have a fresh filly for runs at Grade 1 races like the Flower Bowl -- run here on Sept. 4 -- and the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6.
Asked if this performance made him excited for those races, Mott said, “I was excited after the Bewitch.”