Keeneland: War Like Goddess wins Bewitch for 3rd year in a row

George Krikorian’s War Like Goddess added her name to the Keeneland record books when she scored her third consecutive victory in Friday's Grade 3, $300,000 Bewitch on closing day of the spring meet.

Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Joel Rosario, War Like Goddess stalked the early pace, took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off a determined rally by Temple City Terror to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

Mott said afterward that War Like Goddess may just be reaching her peak.

“She’s as good or better right now, and she’s just such a really special filly," he said. "They don’t come along that often. You can get a lot of horses in the barn, but to have one like this that’s so consistent and she shows up all the time – she’s just a very special horse. I’m very fortunate to have been the recipient of her when she came in as a 2-year-old.”

War Like Goddess is the third horse to win a Keeneland stakes three years in a row, joining Royal Harmony, who won the Fayette in 1969, 1970 and 1971, and Knight Counter, who took the Ben Ali in 1972, 1973 and 1974.

Making her first start since finishing third against males in the Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Keeneland, War Like Goddess covered the Bewitch’s 1½ miles on a turf course labeled good in 2:32.11.

The 1-2 favorite in the field of five older fillies and mares, War Like Goddess returned $3.00, $2.32 and $2.10. Temple City Terror, ridden by Jose Ortiz, paid $3.12 and $2.10. Finishing third another 11 lengths back was Personal Best, who paid $2.10 to show under Irad Ortiz Jr.