War Like Goddess Extends Win Streak in Flower Bowl

George Krikorian's War Like Goddess  has continued to make the step up with aplomb. The 4-year-old English Channel   filly did not debut until late September 2020, but less than a year later she is a winner in six of seven starts.

On Sept. 4 the Bill Mott trainee rolled to her fourth consecutive graded stakes victory when she unleashed a furious turn of foot in the $600,000 Flower Bowl Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park. The 1 3/8-mile inner turf test for fillies and mares was her first try at the top level, and with the victory in the Breeder's Cup Challenge race, she picked up a fees-paid berth in the Nov. 6 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.

"She's a classy filly. You can do whatever you want and she'll still give you that punch in the end," said jockey Julien Leparoux after guiding War Like Goddess to a 2 1/4-length win. "It's nice. It's a sign of the good ones, for sure."

Leparoux settled War Like Goddess along the inside about five to six lengths off the pace early in the Flower Bowl. They tracked fractions set by La Signare , who opened up with splits of :24.71, :48.83, 1:13.66, and 1:37.40 on the firm course. Great Island  followed in second.

War Like Goddess was switched to the outside by Leparoux in the upper final stretch. She then burst past the rivals in front of her and drew clear to complete the distance in 2:13.07. She paid $2.80 to win as the favorite.

"When they were coming out of the turn, I was watching the race and the pillar from the grandstand was in the way, so I didn't know if she was still on the inside or the outside," Mott said. "Then by the time she came, I could see that she made her way to the outside and was clear. 

"She was tucked in most of the way. (Leparoux) tipped her out and got running room. She's won on the inside before. If you can get a clear run, that's all you need."

Great Island held on for second by a nose over My Sister Nat , who rallied from last in the field of six. Both are trained by Chad Brown, the latter a half sister to the 2019 Flower Bowl winner and 2018 champion turf female Sistercharlie .

Lovely Lucky , American Bridge , and La Signare completed the order of finish. Coastana  was scratched.

The Flower Bowl was moved up on the calendar this year and held at the end of the Saratoga meet instead of during the Belmont Park fall meet.

WAR LIKE GODDESS battled hard to win the Flower Bowl! #WinAndYoureIN pic.twitter.com/VsfO9PFZHj

— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) September 4, 2021

War Like Goddess won maiden and allowance races at Churchill Downs in her two starts at 3. Her only misstep was in her 4-year-old debut when she finished fifth in the Feb. 27 The Very One Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park. She rebounded to take the Orchid Stakes (G3T) at the same track a month later, then annexed the Bewitch Stakes (G3T) during the Keeneland spring meet and the Aug. 7 Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga off the layoff. With the Flower Bowl added to her win column, her earnings stand at $713,684.

War Like Goddess was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm out of the North Light  mare Misty North , who has two winners from three starters,. The dam's last reported foal is a yearling Bal a Bali   colt named North of Bali.

She is the third grade 1 winner this year for English Channel, who stands at Calumet in Kentucky, following Channel Cat  in the May 8 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park and Two Emmys  in the Aug. 14 Mr. D Stakes (G1T) at Arlington International Racecourse. English Channel was North America's leading turf sire in 2020 and currently sits atop that same list for 2021.

As a weanling at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, War Like Goddess was a $1,200 purchase by Falcon L & L Stables/Lawrence Hobson out of the Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services consignment. She was a $1,000 RNA the next year at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale but brought $30,000 from H N D Bloodstock when consigned by Hemingway Racing & Training Stables to the Ocala Breeders' Sales June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age.

After a successful grade 1 debut, Mott said "there's a good possibility" War Like Goddess could train up the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, run at the Flower Bowl's distance this year. 

"She seems to run pretty well fresh, so maybe that's what we'll do," he added.

Leparoux praised the Hall of Fame conditioner's handling of War Like Goddess.

"Bill Mott knows how to get them to these grade 1s," he said. "They took their time with her and it has paid off. 

"For sure, the Breeders' Cup is the goal, so if she gets there healthy, she'll be going in with a big chance."

Video: Flower Bowl S. (G1T)