The days are down to a precious few at Saratoga as the East Coast’s premier meet draws to a conclusion on Labor Day.
As everyone observes “My, my, where did the summer go?”
There is a final sendoff, a stakes-filled weekend for racing fans starting Saturday with the featured $500,000 Flower Bowl (G2) for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on the turf.
It is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” stakes with the winner punching her ticket to the Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
War Like Goddess. Chelsea Durand/NYRA Photo
Will War Like Goddess Repeat in the Flower Bowl?
Not every horse lives up to his or her name. Horses are named before they start their careers, and the owner’s choice of name often reflects unfounded and sadly quickly-dashed optimism.
Every so often, a name fits like a glove as in the case with War Like Goddess.
The tough-as-nails 7-year-old mare has already posted 12 wins and earned over $2.7 million in a brilliant career.
She returns for another crack at the Flower Bowl. She won this race in 2021 and was second, missing by only a neck, in 2022.
The handicapper’s main concerns about War Like Goddess are the sands of time. At 7, has she lost a step? Can she continue to perform at the highest levels?
Junior Alvarado, who will be aboard for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, doesn’t seem concerned.
“She should be sitting on a good run,” Alvarado said, “I’m looking forward to it. It’s a perfect distance and she seems to be training well.”
Mott has given the veteran, who owns multiple Grade 1 wins over males, plenty of time to prepare for a late season campaign.
This is only the third start of the year for War Like Goddess who kicked off the campaign with a surging third-place finish against the boys in the New York Stakes (G1) at Saratoga before winning the R.G. Dick Memorial (G3) most recently at Delaware Park.
McKulick. NYRA Photo.
McKulick will draw a lot of wagering support. She is coming off a career-best victory in Saratoga’s Glens Falls Stakes (G2) earlier this month for trainer Chad Brown.
Last year, McKulick parlayed a Glens Falls win into a second-place finish in the Flower Bowl as the 2-5 favorite behind Parnac, who returns to defend her title.
While McKulick is the “now horse,” we will stick with our long-time sentimental favorite in this turf marathon.
For those who bet horse racing …
The picks: 1 War Like Goddess 2 McKulick 3 Eternal Hope
The field for the $500,000 Flower Bowl Stakes (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 War Like Goddess (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott), 7-5
2 La Mehana (Luis Saez, Christophe Clement), 15-1
3 Parnac (Dylan Davis, Christophe Clement), 12-1
4 Eternal Hope (Manny Franco, Charlie Appleby), 5-1
5 Millie Girl (Javier Castellano, Catherine Day Phillips), 20-1
6 Neecie Marie (Jose Lezcano, Butch Reid, Jr.), 8-1
7 McKulick (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Chad Brown), 8-1
8 Idea Generation (Florent Geroux, Chad Brown), 20-1
9 Verbier (E Geatrex, Ralph Beckett), 10-1
Also eligibles
10 Movie Moxy (Jose Lezcano, Linda Rice), 5-2
11 Amanda’s Folly (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Linda Rice), 7-2
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
