War Like Goddess Takes on Boys Again in BC Turf

War Like Goddess  is 3-for-4 since she got home third, beaten just half a length, in the 2021 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) so trainer Bill Mott set an even more ambitious goal for the English Channel  mare in this year's World Championships: the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).

At Del Mar, it was Loves Only You  who rallied late to snatch the victory from War Like Goddess with My Sister Nat  between them.

The Japanese are absent this time around but the 5-year-old still faces quality international rivals with credentials from as far afield as Germany and Brazil. And it's not just the global raiders posing a threat.

Mott said he's counting on War Like Goddess' affinity for the Keeneland layout, as well as the distance of the race, to get her home at the end of the 1 1/2 miles.

"She's been very competitive with whoever we've thrown her in with," Mott said after pre-entries. "We chose the 12-furlong race against the boys because of the distance rather than going to the Filly & Mare Turf, which is only a mile and three-sixteenths at Keeneland. We just felt she's probably better at the longer distance and able to compete with better horses at that trip."

Mott also noted War Like Goddess' 2-for-2 record on the Keeneland turf.

"I think the fact that she's passed that test gives me some amount of comfort because I don't think every horse runs their best race at Keeneland," he said.

"There are going to be some new shooters, some Europeans. It's going to be a fun race."

Predictably, Godolphin and Coolmore are prominent among the visitors.

Nations Pride  was moved to New York after an eighth-place disappointment for trainer Charlie Appleby in the Cazoo Derby In Memory of Lester Piggott (G1) and finished a strong second in the Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) July 9. The son of Teofilo  then rolled to impressive scores in the Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T) and Caesars Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G3T)—the latter by 6 1/4 lengths as the odds-on favorite.

"He absolutely flew today," jockey Frankie Dettori said after the Jockey Club was run over the Aqueduct turf. "From the last corner, the result was never in doubt. He has strengthened up and it showed in the result."

While Nations Pride found his game in New York, Godolphin's other contender in the Turf, Rebel's Romance , came into his own in Germany, taking out the Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) and Preis von Europa (G1) back-to-back against some stout Teutonic competition, including IDEE Deutsches Derby (G1) winner Sammarco .

Noting that win was worthy of a Breeders' Cup trip, Appleby said, "It was another very pleasing performance from Rebel's Romance, who was giving weight to Sammarco. He saw the trip out well and it was a great ride by William (Buick)."

Irish maestro Aidan O'Brien's Turf team seems on paper to be a little light, given the resources at hand at the Ballydoyle yard.

The top Coolmore entry, Broome , a 6-year-old son of Australia , doesn't appear to be a prime contender after finishing eighth, beaten 8 1/2 lengths, in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) in his last start. But note: A year ago, he reported 11th in the Arc, then jumped up to finish second, a half length behind Yibir  in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Stone Age  has been a disappointment by Coolmore standards. The 3-year-old Galileo  colt has only two wins but did show signs while finishing third in the Belmont Derby.

The remainder of the international squad has question marks galore.

Mishriff  at his prime would be a top candidate here but, at 5, has been found wanting in seven straight heats and would seem to bank on firm going to move him up. Nautilus  earned his way into the race in June with an upset victory in the Grande Premio Brasil (G1), a "Win and You're In" Challenge race, by far the high point of his career. Mise En Scene , a 3-year-old Siyouni  filly, is the also-eligible for this race and, anyway, looks more likely for the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), where she also is pre-entered.

American contenders also have been in-and-out in recent races although Gold Phoenix  and Master Piece  looked sharp finishing 1-2, respectively, in the Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T). Highland Chief  and 8-year-old Channel Maker  both continue to show ability. Bye Bye Melvin  made the early pace in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) in New York Oct. 8 before War Like Goddess blew right by him to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

Here’s the field for the @BreedersCup Turf on Saturday at #Keeneland! pic.twitter.com/dz6xK6DLAT

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 31, 2022

Entries: Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T)

Keeneland, Saturday, November 05, 2022, Race 10

• Grade IT
• 1 1/2m
• Turf
• $4,000,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:40 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Bye Bye Melvin (KY)	Feargal Lynch	126	H. Graham Motion	15/1
2	2War Like Goddess (KY)	Joel Rosario	123	William I. Mott	9/2
3	3Stone Age (IRE)	Ryan L. Moore	122	Aidan P. O'Brien	15/1
4	4Broome (IRE)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	126	Aidan P. O'Brien	12/1
5	5Rebel's Romance (IRE)	James Doyle	126	Charles Appleby	3/1
6	6Channel Maker (ON)	Jose L. Ortiz	126	William I. Mott	30/1
7	7Nations Pride (IRE)	William T. Buick	122	Charles Appleby	7/2
8	8Master Piece (CHI)	Tyler Gaffalione	126	Michael W. McCarthy	20/1
9	9Gold Phoenix (IRE)	Flavien Prat	126	Philip D'Amato	20/1
10	10Red Knight (NY)	Luis Saez	126	Michael J. Maker	20/1
11	11Mishriff (IRE)	Lanfranco Dettori	126	John H. M. Gosden	6/1
12	12Nautilus (BRZ)	Javier Castellano	126	Paulo H. Lobo	30/1
13	13Highland Chief (IRE)	John R. Velazquez	126	H. Graham Motion	15/1