Keeneland: Minor cut takes War Like Goddess out of Bewitch

Lexington, Ky.

War Like Goddess, the 3-5 favorite on the morning line, suffered a minor injury and was scratched from her attempt at an unprecedented fourth straight win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Bewitch Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for older fillies and mares on closing day Friday at Keeneland.

Trainer Bill Mott confirmed Daily Racing Form’s report that the 7-year-old English Channel mare who has nine graded-stakes victories and more than $2.5 million in earnings cut a hind leg when she kicked herself. The wound was said to be small and nothing serious, but it was enough to force her out of the last stakes race of the spring meet.

Mott said in a text message to Horse Racing Nation that War Like Goddess was “just out for today.”

Owned by George Krikorian, War Like Goddess has not raced since she finished seventh going against the boys last year in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita. Her most recent win came a race earlier against open company Oct. 7 in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1), her second consecutive score in the New York race.

Started in 1962, the Bewitch has been open since 1986 to older fillies and mares. War Like Goddess is the only horse who has won the race more than once.

Queens Command, who was 12-1 in the program, and Commandandcontrol, who was 30-1, also were scratched, leaving six potential starters. Vergara, 4-1 on the original morning line, became the new favorite for the Bewitch, which is scheduled for Friday at 4:07 p.m. EDT.