September 26, 2024
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Bring it Home
After five seasons, 12 wins (10 graded stakes), and $2.875 million banked, War Like Goddess has given her connections just about everything they could have asked for.
But the 7-year-old mare is by no means ready to hang up the horseshoes just yet.
On Saturday at Aqueduct, War Like Goddess can become the first three-time winner of the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) after winning the previous two editions of the $500,000 affair in 2022 and ’23.
Should the Bill Mott trainee cross the finish line first, she would break away from four other two-time winners, including her sire English Channel (2006, 2007).
The opening line odds (8-5) are certainly in War Like Goddess’ favor.
Quest for the California Crown
New name, new purse, but still the same top-notch action in Saturday’s $1 million California Crown (G1) at Santa Anita.
The 1 1/8-mile tilt, formerly known as the Awesome Again Stakes, features a star-studded field of seven, headlined by title contenders Muth (2-1), Subsanador (ARG) (5-1), and Senor Buscador (6-1).
Multiple graded stakes winner Muth is a perfect 3-for-3 in 2024, and 5-2-0 in seven starts altogether. The Juan Hernandez mount’s successful start to the season bought him a five-month layoff that recently ended with a Shared Belief score on Sept. 1.
Subsanador made his stateside debut on Dec. 26, 2023, after taking seven of his 12 starts in his native Argentina. The 5-year-old earned his first US win last time out in the Philip Iselin, his fourth start.
Last but not least is 2024 Saudi Cup (G1) champion Senor Buscador. The 6-year-old Todd Fincher charge missed the board in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien last out (fourth) but has proven to race up against studly competition.
Show Me Seven
Fresh off a 5 ¾-length victory in the Charles Town Classic (G1), Skippylongstocking is primed and ready for a shot at his seventh career graded stakes trophy in the $400,000 Woodward (G2).
The Manuel Franco mount is set to return to Aqueduct for the first time since finishing third in the Wood Memorial (G2) on Apr. 9, 2022 – his first ever attempt at the graded level.
Skippylongstocking has undoubtedly made significant strides in the two-plus years that have passed, claiming his half-dozen graded stakes and raising his lifetime earnings total to just shy of $3 million.
Oddsmakers like the 5-year-old’s chances on Saturday, tabbing him at 4-5 on the opening line.
Show of a Lifetime
Hit Show may have missed the mark in the Cornhusker Handicap (G3) on Jul. 6, but the 4-year-colt rebounded with a leading performance in the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes (G3) on Aug. 4.
The Brad Cox charge now enters the $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs looking to win consecutive races for the second time in his career.
With five triumphs across 12 lifetime starts (5-1-0), Hit Show has struggled to ride the momentum from one contest into the next.
The Florent Geroux pilot did follow a claiming conquest in December 2022 with a Withers (G3) win in February 2023 but wasn’t able to repeat in his next double down attempt (seventh in the Cornhusker).
However, entering the Lukas at 2-1 (favorite), the third time could very well be the charm.
Golden Grouping
Of the 11 hopefuls entered in this Saturday’s $750,000 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita, four are trained by Phil D’Amato.
Making up the quartet of international stars is Balnikhov (IRE) (5-1), Divin Propos (FR) (6-1), Rockemperor (IRE) (10-1), and multiple graded stakes winner Gold Phoenix (IRE) (7-2).
The 6-year-old gelding has composed quite the career for himself through 21 starts, compiling eight wins (six graded) and more than $1.5 million in earnings.
Although the 2024 campaign has been up and down for Gold Phoenix (ninth in the Grade 3 American and seventh in the Grade 2 Eddie Read), the Kyle Frey mount still has a nose for the winner’s circle (Grade 2 Charles Whittingham and Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap).