george krikorian | Horse Racing Free Tips

War Like Goddess Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth With Flower Bowl Win

In a longtime turf stakes race run at a new distance and a new venue, War Like Goddess got a new title: Grade 1 winner. The daughter of English Channel bided her time behind the front-running La Signare, waited for the final turn to make her move, and sprinted away to victory over Great Island and My Sister Nat in the 1 3/8-mile Flower Bowl at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Breaking from the third post, War Like Goddess got a clean start, settling in third behind La Signare and Great Island early. On the backstretch, Lovely Lucky took over third, leaving War Like Goddess six lengths behind the front-running La Signare, who set early fractions of :24.71 for the first quarter, :48.83 for the half-mile, and 1:13.66 for six furlongs. Entering the final turn, the lead was down to two lengths as Great Island started to challenge La Signare's lead going into the Saratoga straight. Julien Leparoux angled War Like Goddess out from the hedge on the turn, seeking a clear running lane in the race's final furlongs.

In the stretch, Great Island made the lead as War Like Goddess sprinted down the center of the track, passing Great Island to take the lead and win by two lengths. Great Island held off a surging My Sister Nat to finish second.

The final time for the 1 3/8-mile G1 Flower Bowl was 2:13.07 over a firm turf course.

The Flower Bowl is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. As a Win and You're In race for the Filly and Mare Turf, the winner earns a feed-paid guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the corresponding race at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, War Like Goddess is a 4-year-old filly out of the North Light mare Misty North. Owned by George Krikorian, the filly is trained by Bill Mott. With her win in the Flower Bowl, the filly has four wins in five starts, for a lifetime record of six wins in seven starts. Consigned by Hemingway Racing and Training Stables, War Like Goddess was purchased by H N D Bloodstock for $30,000 at the 2020 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age sale.

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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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California Stallion Mr. Big Moving To Legacy Ranch

Pete and Evelyn Parrella have welcomed Mr. Big to their Legacy Ranch in Clements, Calif., to stand at stud for the 2022 breeding season. A son of Dynaformer out of the stakes-winning Fappiano mare Fashion Delight, Mr. Big is the sire of 2021 stakes winners Big City Lights (Fasig-Tipton Futurity) and Big Fish (California Derby, champion California-bred 2-year-old).

“We thoroughly enjoyed standing Mr. Big at Rancho Temescal and watching his foals find great success in 2021,” stated Tim Cohen president of Rancho Temescal. “We have decided to stop breeding and foaling going forward. Rancho Temescal will continue to provide care for all our clients, while leaving the niche of breeding and foaling to larger farms in California. We will continue to support Mr. Big at Legacy Ranch.”

“Rancho Temescal is a first-class operation and I have enjoyed working with Tim and his skilled staff over the last two years,” said George Krikorian, owner and breeder of Mr. Big. “I am very excited to be able to position Mr. Big in a different part of the state at such an outstanding facility as Legacy Ranch.”

“Myself and my staff led by farm manager Terry Knight look forward to the 2022 breeding season with Mr. Big added to our stallion roster that also includes leading sire Clubhouse Ride and the hot freshman sire Straight Fire,” said Pete Parrella.

Mr. Big stood for $4,500 in 2021. His 2022 stud fee will be announced at a later date. Mr. Big will be available for inspection by appointment (call 209 759-3315) at Legacy Ranch after Aug. 11. Breeding inquiries should be directed to Gayle Van Leer. 858 775-6262 or gayle@gaylevanleer.com.

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