War Like Goddess tallies another G3 win in Bewitch for Mott

George Krikorian’s favored War Like Goddess rallied from off the pace in impressive fashion to capture the 59th running of the $150,000 Bewitch (G3) on closing day of Keeneland’s spring meet. Ridden by Julien Leparoux for trainer Bill Mott, she finished 3 3/4-lengths ahead of stablemate Delta’s Kingdom and won the 1 1/2-mile race in 2:29.21.

War Like Goddess gave Mott, a member of the Racing Hall of Fame, his fourth victory in the Bewitch following Heatherten (1984), Gaily (1989) and Miss Lenora (1993).

In the Bewitch, Three Flamingos led the field through fractions of :24.46, :49.73, 1:15.96 and a mile in 1:41.73 while War Like Goddess raced far back in the field of 11 older fillies and mares.

Leparoux swung War Like Goddess five-wide in upper stretch, and the filly charged past the leaders to take command of the race.

“That is her natural way of running (from off the pace)," Mott said. 

"She has developed very nicely," Mott said. "As a 2-year-old, she was kind of a spindly little girl but she has filled out, gotten stronger and is very professional. She loves (this) distance and she loves the course. Today was her day.”

War Like Goddess paid $4.60. Delta’s Kingdom, who was ridden by Luis Saez, was second with Pass the Plate another neck behind in third with Rafael Bejarano aboard.