Mott has plans for weekend winners, others at Saratoga

After her worst-to-first rally Saturday, War Like Goddess is being pointed to race next in the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl on Sept. 4 at Saratoga, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. 

That is what Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said after War Like Goddess captured the Glens Falls (G2), a 12-furlong inner-turf test for older fillies and mares.

Click here for Saratoga entries and results.

Owned by George Krikorian, the 4-year-old English Channel bay notched her third straight graded-stakes win, encompassing the Orchid (G3) in March at Gulfstream Park and the Bewitch (G3) in April at Keeneland.

Mott said he was pleased with the winning trip engineered by regular pilot Julien Leparoux, saying, "I thought she accelerated very good. I couldn't describe it any other way other than impressive."

Also racing for Mott, Du Jour finished third, just 3 1/2-lengths back of winner State of Rest, in Saturday's Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1). He had started from post 2 with jockey Joel Rosario.

The Temple City bay owned by Jill Baffert and Debbie Lanni captured the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 American Turf in May at Churchill Downs before finishing fourth last month in the 10-furlong Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) in his first start for Mott.

"I thought he ran well to be third. I wasn't disappointed," Mott said. "He had a little bit of trouble getting through. As he was coming through they kind of squeezed him a little bit, but he still ran well. We're happy with his performance."

Art Collector, owned by Bruce Lunsford, earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure from the Daily Racing Form in a convincing, front-running score in Friday's nine-furlong Alydar Stakes.

The 4-year-old Bernardini colt, who was making his first start for Mott, captured the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland and the Ellis Park Derby, both last August, for former conditioner Tom Drury Jr. He entered the Alydar off a trio of off-the-board efforts.

"He had kind of lost his way a little bit, but it looks like he's back into form," Mott said.

High Oak, an impressive maiden winner in June at Belmont, and Jaipur (G1) winner Casa Creed both breezed a bullet half-mile in 48.11 seconds in company Saturday on the Oklahoma dirt training track.

"They both went well. I was very happy with them," Mott said. "They both did what I wanted them to do. They maybe worked a little better than expected."

High Oak, a 2-year-old son of Gormley who is owned by LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable, is pointed to Saturday's Saratoga Special (G2), a 6 1/2-furlong, main-track sprint for juveniles.

Casa Creed, a 5-year-old son of Jimmy Creed, scratched out of Friday's Troy (G3) after drawing post 12. Mott said Casa Creed will now target the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) on Saturday, a win-and-you're-in qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Mile.

"We didn't like our post the other day, and I think we'd prefer to take our chance in another race," Mott said. "Not that we think it's an easier spot, but maybe we'll get a little better draw and have a chance at a better trip."

Casa Creed will stretch back out to one mile in the Fourstardave after an impressive rally to win the six-furlong Jaipur.

Mott acknowledged that the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, to be contested at five furlongs at Del Mar, would likely be too short for the late-running Casa Creed.

"That's probably not his cup of tea," Mott said.