Zipse: 3rd time could be the charm for War Like Goddess

With many Eclipse Award voters seemingly watching the Breeders’ Cup and little else, it has become increasingly difficult to secure a championship without winning at the world championships. Just ask the connections of War Like Goddess.

It’s not like the 6-year-old daughter of English Channel has run poorly at the Breeders’ Cup the last two years, but solid third-place efforts in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in 2021 and the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) last year were not enough for her to win an Eclipse Award.

The point certainly could be argued, but in my opinion War Like Goddess has been America’s best turf female for three years running. Perhaps this year will at long last finally be her year.

After a pair of disappointing but excusable defeats against her own gender, the big mare was back in a big way Saturday at Aqueduct.

Relaxed early well behind a long-shot frontrunner, who opened up 20 lengths on the field, War Like Goddess stormed home to beat the boys in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic for the second year in row.

The result was vintage War Like Goddess. Gobbling up ground on the yielding turf course, the Bill Mott-trained mare overpowered her competition late. Ridden by Junior Alvarado, she was 4 1/2 lengths clear of the second-place finisher at the wire, leaving no doubt as to who was best on this afternoon.

An impressive winner of the Bewitch Stakes (G3) at Keeneland earlier thi syear for the third time, she now will head to the Breeders’ Cup for a third chance.

Quite honestly, she has a lighter list of accomplishments before the big November test this year than either of the last two, but her win in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic is enough to move her to the top of her division.

Her second victory in the important race raised her record this year to two wins from four starts, with a sterling career mark of 17: 11-2-2. War Like Goddess has earned nearly $2.5 million in her four seasons on the track for owner George Krikorian. She has run in nothing but graded stakes in her last 15 starts, winning nine of them.

War Like Goddess is a true tale of everything good that can be in horse racing. She originally was sold as a weanling for $1,200. The following year, she was ignored and did not sell even for the $1,000 asking price at the Keeneland yearling sale. Finally, as a 2-year-old in training, she was purchased for $30,000.

Expertly handled by her patient Hall of Fame trainer, War Like Goddess did not make her career debut until September of her 3-year-old season, winning her debut on the Churchill Downs turf course. As they say, the rest is history.

Now a Grade 1 winner in each of the last three seasons, she has run on nothing but turf and clearly loves the demanding 12-furlong trip of many of the world’s most prestigious grass races. She is very good on firm turf but might be even better when it’s damp, as it was on Saturday.

Likely to find a firm turf in four weeks' time at Santa Anita, she will face a strong international cast looking for the top prize in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf. It won’t be easy, but War Like Goddess will get her preferred distance, and will once again she'll be a big threat against the boys.

In the grand scheme of things, I guess a championship is not a make-or-break accomplishment for an excellent horse like this. Unwanted as a young filly, there doesn’t need to be an Eclipse Award next to her name to know that she has been a fantastic horse ever since her debut.

Still, I’d like to see her get one. Perhaps the third time will be the charm for War Like Goddess.