BY BROCK SHERIDAN
George Krikorian’s War Like Goddess defended her title in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic during the Belmont at the Big A meet Saturday, defeating her male rivals in the “Win and You’re” event for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Trained by Bill Mott, War Like Goddess ran down So High (GB) in deep stretch to take the winner’s share of the $500,000 event set at a mile-and-a-half on the outer turf at Aqueduct. War Like Goddess won by four-and-a-half lengths in a course record time of 2:32.86 with Junior Alvarado aboard.
Soldier Rising (GB) was second with So High third.
War Like Goddess paid $9.60 to win.
The 6-year-old daughter of English Channel out of Misty North, by North Light (Ire) has now won 11 of 17 career starts with earnings of $2,495,184.
Last year, War Like Goddess finished third behind winner Rebel’s Romance (Ire) in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland.
She was a $30,000 purchase by HND Bloodstock at the 2019 OBS June Sale where she was consigned by Hemingway Racing and Training Stables.
Muth Punches Breeders’ Cup Ticket with American Pharoah Win
Zedan Racing Stables’ punched his ticket to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with a resounding victory in the $301,500 Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita.
Relaxing nicely just off the pace on the inside, the 2-year-old colt by Good Magic out of Hoppa, by Uncle Mo swept to the lead after turning for home and scored by nearly four lengths over OBS June Sale graduate Wine Me Up. Be You was third.
Consigned to the 2023 OBS March Sale by Top Line Sales LLC, Muth was purchased by Donato Lanni for a sale record equaling $2-million.
— OBS Press Release
OBS Alum Arzak takes Woodford at Keeneland
Sonata Stable’s Arzak, came from off the pace to win the Grade 2 Woodford presented by FanDuel Saturday at Keeneland at odds of 11-1. Ridden by Joel Rosario for trainer Michael Trombetta, Arzak won his second consecutive race after scoring last out against high level, $80,000 optional claimers going five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf at Saratoga on Aug. 23.
In taking the winner’s share of the $337,875 Woodford, Arzak finished two lengths faster than Our Shot in second with Beer Can Man third.
He paid $25.66 to win.
Arzak is by Not This Time out of Delightful Melody, by Tapit and has now won seven of 23 starts with earnings of $606,006.
He was a $575,000 purchase by Marc Tacher out of the Julie Davies consignment at the 2020 OBS Spring Sale.
Slider Takes Speakeasy in Third Career Start
Slider jumped from a three-length victory against special weight maidens on Sept. 9 at Del Mar into stakes company with success Saturday at Santa Anita with a length-and-a-quarter victory in the $102,500 Speakeasy. It was the third career start for the son of Jimmy Creed out of Days Like This, by Congrats, who is trained by John Sadler for Hall Racing LLC, Pearl Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds.
Dark Vintage (Ire) was second with Florida-bred April Vintage third.
Slider, who was second to Heartland in a maiden special weight at Del Mar in his career debut, won at 4-5 odds and paid $3.80.
Consigned by Marcial Galan at this year’s OBS Spring Sale, Slider dropped the gavel at $240,000 on a final bid from West Point Thoroughbreds.
