War Like Goddess Tries for Third Straight Bewitch Score
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Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography
War Like Goddess wins the 2022 Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland
On closing day of Keeneland's Spring Meet trainer Bill Mott will send out George Krikorian's talented turf mare War Like Goddess in search of a third straight Bewitch Stakes (G3T) win in the April 28 race for older fillies and mares 4-years-old going 1 1/2 miles on the Keeneland turf.
The 6-year-old daughter of English Channel has excelled under Hall of Fame trainer Mott throughout her career since breaking earning her maiden at Churchill Downs in September 2020. She has only finished off the board once from 13 starts for a record of 9-1-2, while competing against graded company in 11 of those races.
She wrapped up last season by finishing third against males in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland. Besides taking the $300,000 Bewitch from 2021-2022, the mare's other graded wins include the 2021 Flower Bowl Stakes (G1T), Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) in 2021-22, 2021 Orchid Stakes (G3T), and the 2022 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T). She also finished third in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.
Looking to turn tables is 2022 Bewitch runner-up Temple City Terror , who closed out 2022 with a pair of grade 3 wins and opened 2023 with a fourth-place finish in the Hillsborough Stakes (G2T). The Brendan Walsh trainee, a 7-year-old daughter of Temple City , has brought owner Town and Country Racing to the winner's circle seven times.
After running second to German-bred Amazing Grace in the Orchid Stakes (G3T) last out at the Big A, the 4-year-old Tapit filly Personal Best looks for her first win at Keeneland after putting in two tries last year during the spring and fall meets in maiden special weight and allowance company. The Joseph Allen homebred added the Tropical Park Oaks to her tally in December and grabbed her first graded win in the Jan. 28 La Prevoyante Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park for trainer Shug McGaughey.
Also entered by Walsh's is Ensemble , who seeks her first victory in graded company after completing her first season in the United States last year; grade 2 winner in Italy Sopran Basilea , who will be making her first start in North America; and Chaton Rouge who is trained and owned by Tracey Glover.
Keeneland, Friday, April 28, 2023, Race 8Entries: Bewitch S. (G3T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Chaton Rouge (KY)
Jack Gilligan
118
Tracey Glover
50/1
2
2Temple City Terror (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
120
Brendan P. Walsh
9/2
3
3Ensemble (IRE)
Tyler Gaffalione
118
Brendan P. Walsh
20/1
4
4War Like Goddess (KY)
Joel Rosario
123
William I. Mott
3/5
5
5Personal Best (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
120
Claude R. McGaughey III
3/1
6
6Sopran Basilea (IRE)
Luis Saez
118
H. Graham Motion
8/1
