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Stretch Punch Gives War Like Goddess Victory In Keeneland’s Closing Day Bewitch

George Krikorian's favored War Like Goddess rallied from off the pace in impressive fashion to capture the 59th running of the $150,000 Bewitch (G3) on closing day of Keeneland's Spring Meet in Lexington, Ky. Ridden by Julien Leparoux for trainer Bill Mott, she finished 3¾ lengths ahead of stablemate Delta's Kingdom and won the 1½-mile race in 2:29.21.

War Like Goddess gave Mott, a member of the Racing Hall of Fame, his fourth victory in the Bewitch following Heatherten (1984), Gaily (1989) and Miss Lenora (1993).

In the Bewitch, Three Flamingos led the field through fractions of :24.46, :49.73, 1:15.96 and a mile in 1:41.73 while War Like Goddess raced far back in the field of 11 older fillies and mares.

Leparoux swung War Like Goddess five-wide in upper stretch, and the filly charged past the leaders to take command of the race.

The victory was worth $90,000 to War Like Goddess, a 4-year-old daughter of English Channel out of Misty North, by North Light (IRE). The Keeneland sales graduate, who was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, has won four of five career races and earned $246,184. On March 27, War Like Goddess won the 1 3/8-mile Orchid (G3) at Gulfstream Park in her last start.

War Like Goddess paid $4.60, $3.40 and $2.80. Delta's Kingdom, who was ridden by Luis Saez, paid $5.60 and $3.40. Pass the Plate, who finished a neck behind in third with Rafael Bejarano aboard, returned $4.80.

Kalifornia Queen (GER) finished a neck behind in fourth and was followed in order by Dalika (GER), Domiga, Three Flamingos, Margaret's Joy, English Affair, Court Return and Cambeliza.

Post-race quotes:

Bill Mott (winning trainer of War Like Goddess): “That is her natural way of running (from off the pace.) She has developed very nicely. As a 2-year-old, she was kind of a spindly little girl but she has filled out, gotten stronger and is very professional. She loves (this) distance and she loves the course. Today was her day.”

Julien Leparoux (winning rider): “I wanted to make sure I kept my position (early in the race). She was traveling very good for me. I felt like I was a winner the whole way around. When I asked her, she kicked on very nicely.”

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Unbeaten Argentine Star La Renoleta Returns Saturday At Oaklawn Park

When the racing world last saw Argentine-bred star La Renoleta, she was crushing allowance opponents early last year at Oaklawn in an audition for one of the country's biggest two-turn races for older fillies and mares.

Then, there was an injury. Now, there's a comeback.

Unbeaten La Renoleta (5 for 5) is scheduled to make her first start in over a year in Saturday's seventh race at Oaklawn, a 1-mile allowance, for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

After winning her first four career starts in Argentina, including the Estrellas Distaff (Gr. 1) in June 2019 – her last race in South America – La Renoleta was privately purchased by Kentucky bloodstock agent Peter Bradley III (Bradley Thoroughbreds) and sent to Asmussen in the United States.

La Renoleta resurfaced in a Feb. 8, 2020, allowance race at 1 1/16 miles and was a 9 ¾-length winner under perennial Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana Jr., earning a solid 89 Beyer Speed Figure in her American debut. Bradley said La Renoleta was being considered for Oaklawn's $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) when a minor soft-tissue injury was discovered, prompting a lengthy break from racing.

“While it wasn't career ending, it was one of those things that took a long time to come around,” Bradley said Thursday morning. “We gave her every bit of time she needed, so it looks like she's back on top of her game and we can't wait for her to run this weekend.”

Bradley assembles racing partnerships, or racing ventures, focusing primarily on fillies. After dipping into South America to privately purchase Chilean-bred filly Dacita, who became a multiple Grade 1 winner in the United States for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, Bradley said he began tracking La Renoleta in June 2019 before finalizing a deal roughly three months later.

A 6-year-old daughter of grass standout Treasure Beach (a Grade 1 winner in the United States and Group 1 winner in Europe), La Renoleta will again be running at Oaklawn following a lengthy layoff. Bradley said retirement was never seriously considered following her injury, adding four months of recovery stretched to seven out of caution.

“There was a hemorrhage along with it, that made it look worse,” Bradley said. “Essentially, we just wanted to be extra careful and we took some time. Knock on wood, it's paid off. We may have even overreacted a little bit, but that's OK. We wanted to make sure she's 100 percent. That's what we have right now.”

Bradley said La Renoleta resumed training around New Year's Day. The mare has seven published workouts at Oaklawn since March 10 in advance of her 2021 debut.

“We figured she would be ready for a spring/summer campaign,” Bradley said. “We hoped we could have been ready early in the Oaklawn meet and could have made a decision on the Apple Blossom. There's two ways you find out if a horse is ready to run. The horses tell you and then Steve tells you.”

Mexican champion Letruska won last Saturday's $1 million Apple Blossom (G1), nosing out two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl. La Renoleta's allowance race is an “extra,” meaning it wasn't in the condition book and is a substitute race written by Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope. Bradley said Saturday's comeback spot isn't a prep for something specific, just a gateway to, hopefully, graded stakes events this summer.

“We always hope to do that with them, if they look like they've got this type of talent,” Bradley said. “Again, one step at a time. We've got this race Saturday. After that, we'll see. If she runs up to our expectations, we'll most probably look for a stakes race. If it turns out that she needs a race, we'll go to Plan B. I would hope that some races at Saratoga would be in her future this summer, some of their top races.”

Co-owners of La Renoleta are Swift Thoroughbreds Inc. (Mark Mache), Paul Braverman and Tim and Anna Cambron. Bradley, in partnership, won the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares in 2019 at Oaklawn with the Asmussen-trained She's a Julie.

La Renoleta is the 8-5 program favorite for Saturday's seventh race at Oaklawn, which carries a $107,000 purse. Probable post time is 4:04 p.m. (Central).

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Kentucky Oaks: Undefeated Search Results ‘Came Back Bouncing’ From Final Breeze

Klaravich Stables' Search Results, undefeated in three starts for trainer Chad Brown, including the April 3 Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct, had some classy company as she completed her last major work for the Oaks. The daughter of Flatter walked onto the Churchill Downs main track at 7:34 with her stablemate, the grade 1-winning millionaire Dunbar Road, who starts in Friday's La Troienne (G1). The pair went five furlongs in a comfortable 1:02.60, which gave Brown plenty of reason for encouragement.

“I gave her an easy work by design,” Brown said. “She's coming back in four weeks so she's very, very fit. I liked the way she went and she really seemed to get over the ground. I just wanted to get her used to the track a bit and she came back bouncing around when we untacked her. I wanted to bring her in there sound and happy and I think we're well on our way to doing that.

“She doesn't normally work with Dunbar Road, they've been in different places, but I just go with the roster I have,” Brown said. “With both horses running two turns on the dirt next Friday, they were a real good match. They were right together and perfect, but in fairness, it was an easy work and anyone could have stayed with anyone. Dunbar Road has run here before and the other filly hasn't been here very long, so with this particular horse, where she's at in her development, I thought it was important.

“She's got a nice solid mile and an eighth race into her in the Gazelle,” Brown said. “She ran quite fast at Aqueduct, faster than the boys in the Wood (G2) on the same card (1:54.14 to 1:54.49), so that's a pretty good indicator of how fit she is and what she potentially got out of that race. So, I just wanted to get her over the track, and they galloped out really well. I got them galloping out in 1:15 (for six furlongs) and her ears were up and I was really happy with it.

“The dynamics of the Oaks figure a lot different than the Gazelle (Search Results was just a length off a half-mile in 50.09),” Brown said. “This filly, much like our Derby horse Highly Motivated, has good early tactical speed. They have shown they can be on the lead at any point, but are probably a touch better with a target. So, with speed signed up in the Oaks—there looks like there are some horses and I've seen some quick breezes here too—if somebody goes out there and she can lay in close proximity, that's my ideal trip. Of course, whether you get your ideal trip in a horse race, is to be determined, but that's what I'd like to see.”

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Fonner Files: It Really Did Just Get Better At Fonner Park

Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak shares slices of life from the Grand Island, Neb., racetrack throughout the 2021 meet in the Fonner Files.

The late sportscaster Dick Enberg used to exclaim, “Oh my!” The late, great football announcer Keith Jackson was known to pop with an, “Oh Nellie!” If they were to opine down from the heavens, I'm certain Harry Caray would chime in with a “Holy Cow!”

All exclamations would apply after a look at the field for the 2021 Bosselman / Gus Fonner Stakes, the ninth race this Saturday at Fonner Park.

The last 365 days have been a wild ride for Sleepy Eyes Todd, who bloomed after his 2020 Bosselman/Gus Fonner win, and Fonner Park continues to shine.

Sleepy Eyes Todd has run against some of the best horses in the world in his last three races, and Fonner Park continues to remain popular in 2021 after exploding onto the scene in 2020 when there was a dearth of wagering opportunities.

The day gets a cherry on top with a mandatory payout in the Late Pick 5 Jackpot. Saturday afternoon is the place to be at Fon.

Sleepy Eyes Todd in the Fonner Park winner's circle following the 2020 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes.

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