War Like Goddess shows brilliance in Flower Bowl defeat

It’s a tired adage, but the reason we run the race is because anything could happen. Entering Saturday’s Grade 2 Flower Bowl Invitational, star turf router War Like Goddess was the heavy favorite to win. By the time the field of six hit the wire, the adage, tired or not, was once again proven true.

Under Irad Ortiz Jr., second choice Virginia Joy went immediately to the lead from post 3 while War Like Goddess and Joel Rosario sat back in fifth. When the opening quarter went up in 26.47 seconds, it became clear that War Like Goddess, who comes from off the pace, was likely in trouble. Considering that the race was contested at 1 3/8 miles, there was ample time for the pace to quicken.

Any hope that Virginia Joy would pick it up on the lead dimmed at each call, with the opening half ran in a pokey 53.29 seconds and the mile in a leisurely 1:45.29. Turning for home, and with plenty left in the tank, Ortiz set Virginia Joy down for the final drive, but all eyes were focused behind her on the bay mare sporting the maroon and dark blue silks.

Thrusting between Flanigan’s Cove to her inside and Marvelous Maude to her outside, War Like Goddess and Rosario found a clear running lane and determinedly set off after the loose-on-the-lead Virginia Joy. With each stride, the daughter of English Channel cut into Virginia Joy’s advantage. With the wire looming, it looked more and more like Virginia Joy’s efforts were going to be for naught. Unfortunately for War Like Goddess, the wire came just in time to preserve the victory for the valiant Virginia’s Joy.

As brilliant of a race as Virginia Joy ran, War Like Goddess showed more brilliance in defeat. Virginia Joy was able to dictate the pace and had everything her own way from start to finish. War Like Goddess, however, was covered up on the rail and had no pace whatsoever to run at. Despite the snail-like fractions, War Like Goddess still had the talent and class to nearly mow down Virginia Joy. Another few strides, and War Like Goddess would have remained undefeated in 2022.

After her Glens Falls Stakes (G2) triumph, her second in as many years, in August, I stated that I wished trainer Bill Mott had waited an extra week and run her in the Arlington Million (G1) because I thought she was a good fit despite the 1 1/8 miles not being her ideal distance.

With the Breeders’ Cup championships coming up, the question centers on which race would be the best fit for this talented mare: the Breeders' Cup Turf or the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Both races are in her wheelhouse, and as she showed this past weekend, War Like Goddess has the class to win either of them despite the circumstances put before her.