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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