bill mott | Horse Racing Free Tips

War Like Goddess Wins Glen Falls For Mott, Casa Creed To Fourstardave

George Krikorian's War Like Goddess rallied from last-of-7 to capture Saturday's $250,000 Grade 2 Glens Falls, a 12-furlong inner-turf test for older fillies and mares at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 4-year-old English Channel bay notched her third straight graded win, encompassing the Grade 3 Orchid in March at Gulfstream Park and the Grade 3 Bewitch in April at Keeneland.

Mott said he was pleased with the winning trip engineered by regular pilot Julien Leparoux.

“I thought she accelerated very good. I couldn't describe it any other way other than impressive,” Mott said.

Mott said he would point War Like Goddess to the $600,000 Grade 1 Flower Bowl on September 4 at Saratoga, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Natalie Baffert and Debbie Lanni's Du Jour, who exited post 2 under Joel Rosario, finished third just 3 1/2-lengths back of winner State of Rest in Saturday's Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational.

The Temple City bay captured the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 American Turf in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., before finishing fourth last month in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational in his first start for Mott.

“I thought he ran well to be third. I wasn't disappointed,” Mott said. “He had a little bit of trouble getting through. As he was coming through, they kind of squeezed him a little bit, but he still ran well. We're happy with his performance.”

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector earned a 102 Beyer in a convincing front-running score in Friday's nine-furlong Alydar.

The 4-year-old Bernardini colt, who was making his first start for Mott, captured the Grade 2 Blue Grass last August at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and the Ellis Park Derby last August for former conditioner Tom Drury, Jr.

He entered the Alydar off a trio of off-the-board efforts.

“He had kind of lost his way a little bit, but it looks like he's back into form,” Mott said.

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LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's High Oak, an impressive maiden winner in June at Belmont, and Grade 1 Jackpocket Jaipur-winner Casa Creed breezed a bullet half-mile in :48.11 in company Saturday on the Oklahoma dirt training track.

“They both went well. I was very happy with them,” Mott said. “They both did what I wanted them to do. They maybe worked a little better than expected.”

High Oak, a 2-year-old son of Gormley, is pointed to Saturday's $200,000 Grade 2 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite, a 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for juveniles.

Casa Creed, a 5-year-old son of Jimmy Creed, scratched out of Friday's Grade 3 Troy presented by Horse Racing Ireland after drawing post 12. Mott said Casa Creed will now target the $500,000 Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap on August 14, a “Win and You're In' qualifier to the Breeders' Cup Mile.

“We didn't like our post the other day and I think we'd prefer to take our chance in another race,” Mott said. “Not that we think it's an easier spot, but maybe we'll get a little better draw and have a chance at a better trip.”

Casa Creed will stretch back out to one mile in the Fourstardave after an impressive rally to win the six-furlong Jackpocket Jaipur. Mott acknowledged that the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, to be contested at five furlongs at Del Mar, would likely be too short for the late-running Casa Creed.

“That's probably not his cup of tea,” Mott said.

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War Like Goddess Goes From Last To First In Grade 2 Glens Falls

In her trademark style, Bill Mott-trained War Like Goddess took the Grade 2 Glens Falls in a last-to-first thriller Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course under Julien Leparoux. The 4-year-old filly broke well in the 1 1/2 mile contest and settled in at the back of the pack as Dalika (GER) sprinted to a controlling position, stretching out to a five-length lead early and controlling the pace past the stands the first time and all through the backstretch. Call Me Love and Luck Money stayed together in second and third, eventually also separating from the remaining competitors. The field began clustering back together at the final turn as Leparoux asked War Like Goddess for run, swinging at least five wide into the stretch. The filly responded easily, passing fellow closers to prevail by 3 1/4 lengths at the wire.

My Sister Nat (FR) was second, followed by Temple City Terror and Luck Money.

War Like Goddess came to the race off a win in the G3 Bewitch at Keeneland and the G3 Orchid at Gulfstream. the race brings her to a lifetime record of five wins from six starts. Mott trains War Like Goddess for owner George Krikorian.

The filly was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm and is the daughter of English Channel and North Light (IRE) mare Misty North. She was a $1,200 weanling from the Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services consignment at Keeneland November, where she was purchased by Falcon L&L Stables and Lawrence Hobson. She as then sold for $30,000 as a 2-year-old at the 2019 OBS June sale, where H N D Bloodstock purchased her from the Hemingway Racing and Training consignment.

The final time was 2:27.55, with fractional times of 2:03.64, 1:38.84, 1:13.02, and :49.05.

War Like Goddess was the favorite and paid $3.70, $2.70, and $2.30. See the full chart here.

G2 Glens Falls Quotes

Bill Mott, winning trainer of War Like Goddess (No. 3, $3.70*): “She ran well. We freshened her up a little bit and brought her back today. She moved forward for us and beat a nice bunch of fillies today.

“Our filly was pulling a little bit and they were going slow up front, so you always hope they can close into that slow kind of pace. She was good enough. I saw a good finish similar to what we saw in the [Grade 3] Bewitch [won last out in April at Keeneland].”

Glens Falls Quotes, courtesy NYRA press office

George Krikorian, winning owner of War Like Goddess (No. 3): “I give all the credit to my bloodstock agent Donato Lanni. He called me one day and told me, 'I saw this filly, she looks really nice. She might need some time but when she grows up, I think she'll be a special horse.' He was right. She's been pretty special so far. She's bred for this distance, for sure.”

Julien Leparoux, winning jockey aboard War Like Goddess (No. 3): “She gave some kick in the end. I think today she broke good. We got bumped, so we were last because of the little bump in the beginning. But she still had the kick, so that was nice to see. I think she's going improve for it.

“She's very nice. I think she can endure any kind of ground and even when she was pulling a bit on me early on, she's fresh. She had a very nice kick, so I'm very excited to be able to ride her. She felt great.

Jose Ortiz, jockey aboard runner-up My Sister Nat (No. 5): “I had a good trip, but honestly, when I took back a bit, I knew it was going to be tough to beat the winner. My horse tried hard, but she was second-best.”

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Now In Mott Barn, Art Collector Scores On Front End In Alydar At Saratoga

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector, confidently handled by Luis Saez, captured Friday's $120,000 Alydar, a nine-furlong test for older horses who have not won a stakes other than state-bred in 2021, at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Recently transferred to the care of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, the 4-year-old Bernardini colt utilized a front-running approach to secure his first win since capturing a pair of nine-furlong stakes last summer for his former conditioner, Tom Drury, in the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland and the Ellis Park Derby.

“If you look at his nine-furlong races, you saw he had done very well for the previous trainer,” said Mott. “Both Tom Drury and I had trained for Bruce and Bruce wanted the horse in Saratoga, so Tommy sent the horse up to us and he was in good shape when he came. We've had him six weeks and he's done well since he's been here.”

Art Collector, exiting post 4, cleared the field of eight into the first turn as a forwardly-placed Core Beliefs protected his inside run with Bourbon War, Math Wizard and Night Ops also jostling for position through an opening quarter-mile in 24.51 seconds on the fast main track.

Jesus' Team, runner-up in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup in January, was slow away from the gate but rushed up into sixth down the backstretch by Junior Alvarado as the half-mile ticked by in 48.80.

Art Collector, moving confidently under Saez, dictated terms into the final turn as Night Ops continued to press with the duo gaining three lengths of separation on Core Beliefs in third.

As the field straightened away for the stretch run, Art Collector opened up by three-lengths under a hand ride as Night Ops continued his dogged pursuit and started to close the gap. But an alert Saez shook the reins and his charge responded in kind to secure the 1 1/2-length win in a final time of 1:48.20.

Saez, who guided Art Collector to a runner-up effort on debut in August 2019 at the Spa, said he wanted to be forwardly placed.

“I rode the horse when he was a baby and he liked to be a free runner,” Saez said. “The plan was to break well from our post and see if we can get the lead, and everything went the way we planned it. Breaking from there, we got ahead and he kept going. I saw Manny coming, but I knew I had a lot of horse, so I was patient with him.”

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Night Ops completed the exacta by 8 1/2-lengths over Math Wizard. Rounding out the order of finish were Core Beliefs, Limonite, Prioritize, Bourbon War and Jesus' Team.

“When I was in my position stuck in second, I didn't think the pace was too quick, so I had to do my work because no one else went with [Art Collector],” Franco said. “My horse is a horse that never gives up. He always tries. I have to give credit to the winner, but my horse was second-best today.”

Art Collector, who completed his sophomore campaign with off-the-board efforts in the Grade 1 Preakness in October at Pimlico and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November at Keeneland, was transferred to Mott following a sixth-place finish in the Kelly's Landing in June at Churchill Downs.

Mott said Art Collector will now potentially target the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward on October 2 at Belmont Park.

Bred in Kentucky by his owner, Art Collector banked $66,000 in victory while improving his record to 13-6-1-0. He paid $3.80 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Saturday with a loaded 12-race card headlined by the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney at nine furlongs for older horses, a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

Whitney Day also features two other Grade 1 events with the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational for 3-year-olds going 1 3/16 miles over the Mellon turf and the $500,000 Longines Test for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs over the main track.

Also featured on the card are the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls for older fillies and mares travelling 1 1/2 miles over the inner turf and the $120,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure for 4-year-olds and upward over the Mellon turf. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

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Aug. 7 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

EXPENSIVE & WELL-BRED JUVENILES DEBUT ON WHITNEY UNDERCARD

5th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 2:52p.m.

An intriguing group of juvenile colts seek their diplomas Saturday on the GI Whitney S. undercard. The most expensive of the group is OXO Equine's IMMOKALEE (Curlin). The $750,000 KEENOV acquisition is out of MGSP Banree (Macho Uno), a half-sister to MSW & MGSP Superstition (Ghostzapper) and GSW Gloryzapper (Ghostzapper). Chad Brown unveils a colt from the first crop of the late Arrogate in $590,000 KEESEP buy Big Skipper. The bay is a half to MSP Summer Reading (Hard Spun) and GSP Heart of Paradise (More Than Ready). Their dam is a half to GSW Megascape (Cape Canaveral) and SW Richest Half (Rizzi). Steve Asmussen saddles a pair of first timers in Vodka Mardini (Bernardini) and Stellar Tap (Tapit). Vodka Mardini is the first foal out of GSW & GISP Hot City Girl (City Zip), a half-sister to the late champion sprinter La Verdad (Yes It's True). A $250,000 KEESEP purchase, Stellar Tap is out of a half-sister to GISW Nereid (Rock Hard Ten) and SW & GSP Sea Queen (Lemon Drop Kid). Phipps homebred Imminent Storm (Flatter) debuts for Shug McGaughey here. The gray's second dam is champion Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat), who of course is a daughter of MGISW My Flag (Easy Goer). Tony Dutrow saddles Predicted (Tapit) in his career bow. His full-sister Sweet Loretta won the GI Spinaway S. at this oval, as well as the GIII Schuylerville S. This is also the family of Canadian champion Spring in the Air (Spring At Last). Todd Pletcher sends out a second timer worth a look in Keepcalmcarryon (Union Rags). He was second on debut behind an impressive performance from stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Wit (Practical Joke), who went on to take the GIII Sanford S. in his next start. The bay is out of SW Lavender Chrissie (Scat Daddy), a half to GSW Baby J (J Be K) and SW & GISP Laureate Conductor (Bernstein). TJCIS PPs

BAFFERT UNVEILS PRICEY PAIR

4th-DMR, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 6:34p.m.

Bob Baffert saddles a pair of expensive first time starters in FLYING DRUMMER (Gun Runner) and Montebello (Curlin). Donato Lanni signed the $850,000 ticket on Flying Drummer at OBS April on behalf of Michael Lund Petersen after the colt breezed in :10 flat. The gray is out of SW & GSP Salamera (Successful Appeal), who is a half-sister to the SP dam of MSW & GISP Piedi Bianchi (Overanalyze) and MSW & GISP Outadore (Outwork). The group known as the Avengers went to $400,000 at KEESEP to acquire Montebello. The bay is out of MSW & GISP Beautiful But Blue (El Corredor), who is a daughter of MSW NY-bred Beautiful America (Dixie Brass). Richard Mandella unveils Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) for MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm. The $300,000 FTKSEL buy is out of GSW Just Louise (Five Star Dady), a daughter of MGSW Sara Louise (Malibu Moon). TJCIS PPs

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