Belmont at the Big A Stakes Previews

Posted On 29 Sep 2023

By Mary Eddy —-

War Like Goddess goes for repeat win in G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – George Krikorian’s dual Grade 1-winner War Like Goddess vies to defeat males for a second consecutive victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, a 1 1/2-mile inner turf marathon for 3-year-olds and up, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 6-year-old daughter of English Channel was slated to run in the Grade 2 Flower Bowl on September 2 at Saratoga Race Course in pursuit of a second win in that event, but was removed from consideration after she spiked a temperature.

“She seems good,” Mott said of how the bay has recovered from her setback as he watched her gallop over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track on Tuesday.

War Like Goddess scored in last year’s Joe Hirsch with an off-the-pace trip engineered by Jose Lezcano, pouncing from six lengths back to notch the 2 3/4-length triumph over Bye Bye Melvin and garner a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure.

In addition to the Joe Hirsch, War Like Goddess’ 5-year-old campaign included successful title defenses in the Grade 3 Bewitch at Keeneland and Grade 2 Glens Falls at Saratoga. She attempted a third Glens Falls coup last out at the Spa, but was defeated a neck by McKulick after a troubled trip that saw her become very rank through the first half-mile and steady twice under regular pilot Joel Rosario.

“I think if she’s on the inside and covered up early, that’s fine,” Mott said. “The fact that she was rank around the first turn [hindered her]. He [Rosario] asked her to run a little out of the gate and she was up on the bridle, and then he asked her to slow down. It’s like, ‘Do you want me to go, or do you want me to stop?’ You can’t have it both ways.”

War Like Goddess’ win in the Joe Hirsch propelled her to a second appearance at the Breeders’ Cup after finishing a close third in the 2021 Grade 1 Filly and Mare Turf. Last year, she remained in the company of males when taking on the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf and again finished third, defeated three lengths to returning rival Rebel’s Romance after saving ground on the inside and angling around Master Piece in the stretch to get up for show honors.

Over the past three seasons, War Like Goddess has worked her way to the upper echelon of the turf marathon division, male or female. She earned her first stakes victory in her second attempt when taking Gulfstream Park’s Grade 3 Orchid in 2021, and followed with her first of three consecutive scores in the Bewitch ahead of breakout scores in the Glens Falls and Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational at Saratoga, leading to her subsequent first trip to the Breeders’ Cup.

Junior Alvarado picks up the mount from post 6.

Godolphin’s Irish homebred Rebel’s Romance [post 5, William Buick] looks to make amends from a last-out trip to Saratoga where he contested the Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 30, but clipped heels in the final turn and unseated jockey Richie Mullen.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the son of Dubawi was making his first start since a seventh-place effort in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March and was in the midst of a strong bid from sixth in the nine-horse field when the incident occurred. He completed the course, was collared by the outrider and arrived back at the barn in good order, prompting his connections to briefly reroute him to the Grade 1 Arlington Million the next week at Colonial Downs before deciding to send the 5-year-old gelding back to Appleby’s yard at Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket, England instead.

Sophie Chretien, Appleby’s traveling assistant, said Rebel’s Romance has settled in well at Belmont and continues to train forwardly since arriving in New York on Saturday.

“So far, so good,” said Chretien. “He traveled well. I think without the incident, he was going so well and to me, he would have won easily. It’s something we weren’t expecting. But in the mornings, he doesn’t show anything is wrong. He’s been racing a long time and he looks so happy, hopefully he goes over like that.”

Rebel’s Romance was a two-time Group 1 winner in Germany last year, taking the Grosser Preis von Berlin in August at Hoppegarten and the Preis von Europa in September at Cologne ahead of his successful trip to Keeneland to take the Breeders’ Cup Turf by 2 1/4 lengths with his signature off-the-pace rally under James Doyle.

While Rebel’s Romance often delivers eye-catching rallies, Chretien said she does not believe he is tied to any one pace scenario.

“I don’t think he needs to have a crazy pace, just a normal one,” said Chretien.

Out of the stakes-placed Street Cry mare Minidress, Rebel’s Romance boasts a lifetime record of 14-9-0-0 with field-best earnings of $2,994,610.

Trainer Christophe Clement looks to secure his second win in this event with Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, Wonder Stables and Michael Caruso’s Soldier Rising [post 2, Jose Ortiz].

Soldier Rising makes his seventh attempt at an elusive Grade 1 score after finishing second in four of those efforts. The 5-year-old son of Frankel was a last-out second to Bolshoi Ballet in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer on August 26 at the Spa, closing from 8 1/2 lengths back under Jose Ortiz to be defeated 4 1/2 lengths in an effort that awarded him the fourth triple digit Beyer of his career [100].

In addition to the Sword Dancer, Soldier Rising also finished second in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational as a sophomore and in a pair of Grade 1s earlier this year at Belmont Park in the Man o’ War and Resorts World Casino Manhattan. He is in pursuit of his first trip to the winner’s circle since a narrow score in an optional claiming contest last July at Saratoga, but has hit the board in 4-of-7 starts since, all in graded company.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown brings a pair of contenders to the field with Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Louis Lazzinnaro and Michael Caruso’s Adhamo [post 4, Flavien Prat] and Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg’s Stone Age [post 3, Irad Ortiz, Jr.].

Adhamo enters from a game third-place finish in the Grade 1 Arlington Million on August 12 at Colonial Downs where he came flying home late from 10th-of-11 under Flavien Prat to nab show honors by a neck over Never Explain and finish 2 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Set Piece.

Last year, Adhamo broke through at the top level with a strong 1 1/2-length victory over Epic Bromance in the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park in his fourth state-side outing after making his first 11 starts in France. The 5-year-old Intello chestnut also boasts Grade 1 placings last year when third in the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and Manhattan at Belmont.

Stone Age made his debut for Brown last out when finishing a tiring fifth in the Sword Dancer on August 26. He contested the early lead under Flavien Prat and had a half-length advantage at the one-mile call, but faded in the remaining stages and was defeated 11 1/2 lengths.

Previously trained by Aidan O’Brien, the 4-year-old Galileo colt finished a strong second to Rebel’s Romance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last year and was third in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational. He seeks his first win since taking the Group 3 Derby Trial last May at Leopardstown.

Completing the field are Grade 3-winner Grand Sonata [post 1, John Velazquez] for Hall of Fame conditioner Todd Pletcher, three-time winner So High [post 7, Romero Ramsay Maragh], who races with cheek pieces on for owner/trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul, graded stakes-placed Pioneering Spirit [post 8, Jose Lezcano] for trainer Linda Rice, and the Tom Albertrani-trained graded stakes-winner Astronaut [post 9, Kendrick Carmouche].

The Joe Hirsch is slated as Race 6 on Saturday’s loaded 11-race card, which also features the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward in Race 7, the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom in Race 5 and the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, in Race 3. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of Belmont at the Big A on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Charge It seeks third graded stakes triumph in G2 Woodward

By Ryan Martin

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Whisper Hill Farm’s dual graded stakes-winning Kentucky homebred Charge It will strive for a return to the win column in Saturday’s 70th running of the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward for 3-year-olds and upward going nine furlongs at Belmont at the Big A.

Initially run at Belmont Park in 1954, the Woodward called Saratoga Race Course home from 2006-20 and made a return to Big Sandy in 2021. It was subsequently moved to Aqueduct last year due to ongoing construction at Belmont Park. Since its inaugural running, the Woodward has been championed by over 20 horses to win the prestigious race en route to Horse of the Year honors the same season, including Hall of Fame inductees Sword Dancer [1959], Kelso [1961-63], Buckpasser [1966], Damascus [1967], Arts and Letters [1969], Forego [1974-76], Affirmed [1979], Spectacular Bid [1980], Alysheba [1988], Holy Bull [1994], Cigar [1995-96], Skip Away [1998], Ghostzapper [2004], Curlin [2008] and Rachel Alexandra [2009].

The Woodward makes up an action-packed program which also includes the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh – a “Win And You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint on November 4 at Santa Anita – and the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom.

Charge It enters the Woodward from a distant fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Whitney on August 5 at Saratoga Race Course. There, he raced in between horses when a close fifth down the backstretch and was shuffled back to last-of-6 around the far turn before moving to the rail and making a run under Hall of Famer John Velazquez, but finished 10 lengths behind the victorious White Abarrio. This effort came following a pacesetting 4 3/4-length win in the Grade 2 Suburban on July 8 going 10 furlongs at Belmont Park, where the 4-year-old gray son of Tapit made amends from three straight losses at graded stakes level.

Charge It displayed talent during his sophomore season, finishing a game second to White Abarrio in the Grade 1 Florida Derby last April at Gulfstream Park before finishing 17th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. He rounded out his 2022 campaign with a 23-length romp in the Grade 3 Dwyer going a one-turn mile at Belmont Park.

A victory would provide Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher with his fifth Woodward conquest. Pletcher, who saddled last year’s winner Life Is Good, will look to be the first trainer to secure back-to-back Woodwards since fellow Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen saddled Curlin [2008] and Rachel Alexandra [2009].

“He’s excellent. I’m very happy with the way he’s been training,” said Pletcher, whose other Woodward winners include Lawyer Ron [2007], Quality Road [2010], and Liam’s Map [2015]. “Hopefully, he gets back to one of his best races. Johnny felt like maybe he made a bit of a mistake with him [in the Whitney], but I thought he ran decently, I just didn’t think he ran his ‘A’ race.”

Charge It recently breezed an easy half-mile in 51.55 seconds on Saturday over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track.

“His last breeze was very good,” Pletcher said. “I think the way he’s been training and the little bit of extra time since the Whitney hopefully has him in peak form.”

Charge It is out of the Indian Charlie mare I’ll Take Charge, whose Grade 1-winning dam Take Charge Lady produced 2013 Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Will Take Charge, Grade 1-winner Take Charge Indy and Charming – the dam of Grade 1-winning millionaire and freshman sire Omaha Beach as well as 2014 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Take Charge Brandi.

Velazquez, a four-time Woodward-winning jockey, will maintain the mount aboard Charge It from post 1.

This year’s Woodward will get a touch of international flavor in the form of Rabbah Bloodstock’s Algiers, who will emerge from a six-month hiatus after finishing second in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in March at Meydan Racecourse. Trained by Simon Crisford, the 6-year-old Shamardal chestnut began the season with a pair of open-lengths victories in the first two rounds of the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan Racecourse.

Ed Crisford, the son and assistant to Simon, said Algiers’ time off following the Dubai World Cup was beneficial.

“He’s come out of his break really well,” Crisford said. “He’s big, strong and moving great and he has great attitude. He’s training just as good if not better than in Dubai over the winter. This will be his first run since Dubai, so I’m sure he’ll improve for the run. He’s as fit as we can get him at home without running him. We’re really pleased with his progress. There should be some top horses in there, but I think he’ll run a big race nevertheless.

“He really progressed through his races. He won the Maktoum Challenge in great style, but he had to go out and do it again to prove it wasn’t a long time fluke,” Crisford continued. “But he did it again and that’s when we started to dream about the Dubai World Cup. His performance in the Dubai World Cup was so good. In that last eighth, he got a little leg weary. But it was a good performance, he was in good form and I’m sure he’ll have a good campaign all the way through Dubai and Saudi. We’ll see where he goes.”

Algiers will attempt to become the first Irish-bred to capture the Woodward since 1999 winner River Keen and first internationally bred horse since Chilean-bred Lido Palace scored back-to-back Woodwards in 2001-02.

Bred by Godolphin, Algiers is out of the Platini mare Antara – a group-stakes winner in Germany and England, who was also Group 1-placed in England, France and Italy.

William Buick will ship across the pond to pilot Algiers from post 3.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Chad Brown will saddle Jeff Drown’s Zandon [post 4, Flavien Prat], who finished second to White Abarrio in the Whitney last out.

Third in last year’s Kentucky Derby, Zandon earned Grade 1 honors when securing a 2 1/2-length victory in the Blue Grass last April going the Woodward distance at Keeneland. After finishing in the money in Saratoga’s Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 1 Travers as well as the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx, the 4-year-old Upstart colt finished fourth as the favorite in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile presented by NYRA Bets in December at the Big A – his lone off-the-board effort in 12 lifetime starts. This year, Zandon has finished second in all three of his efforts, rounding out the exacta in Belmont Park’s Grade 3 Westchester in May and Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap in June en route to the Whitney.

Zandon was purchased for $170,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is out of the Creative Cause mare Memories Prevail – a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Cairo Memories.

Brown will also saddle John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services’ Grade 1-placed Pipeline [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche], who was a last-out fourth in the Grade 1 Forego on August 26 at Saratoga – a race where he finished third last year. The son of Speightstown seeks his first trip to the winner’s circle since an allowance triumph last April at Aqueduct.

Pipeline is out of the Empire Maker mare Vivo Per Lei, who was dual graded stakes-placed on grass.

Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Stretch Run Ventures’ Kentucky homebred Tyson [post 8, Javier Castellano] will make another trip to the Empire State after finishing a game third in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 2 at Saratoga for Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll. The 4-year-old gray son of Tapit saw dirt for the first time in his last effort after previously racing exclusively over all weather tracks. He captured Woodbine Racetrack’s Grade 3 Dominion Day on July 1 before securing a win in the Grade 2 Seagram Cup four weeks later.

Tyson is out of the Smart Strike mare Honouring, whose dam Teeming was conditioned by Carroll. She also trained Honouring’s stakes-winning full-sibling Treasuring as well as a pair of half-siblings in stakes-winner Cascading and stakes-placed Distracting. All hail from the prominent bloodlines of Better Than Honour and Reine de Course mare Best in Show.

Last year’s Woodward runner up Law Professor [post 2, Manny Franco] seeks a victory in this year’s running while emerging from a four-month layoff for trainer Rob Atras. The 5-year-old son of Constitution was last seen finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special on May 19 at its namesake track, but posted some of his best efforts over the Big A going. A 7 1/2-length winner of the January 7 Queens County in his 2023 debut, Law Professor schooled his competition two starts later with a 4 1/4-length win in the Excelsior on April 1 over a muddy and sealed Big A main track.

“A just off-the-pace scenario is probably best for him,” said Atras. “He’s a little bit versatile – he can sit close or be right on the pace if he needs to be or a little further back. He’s looking really good right now.”

Law Professor, a Kentucky homebred for Twin Creeks Racing Stable, is out of the Ghostzapper mare Haunted Heroine – a dual stakes winner on turf. His second dam Mona Mia produced Grade 1-winning turf millionaire Celestine.

Completing the field are the Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained O’Connor [post 9, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] who enters from a runner-up effort in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, and the Linda Rice-trained trio of Costa Terra [post 6, Jose Lezcano], Un Ojo [post 7, Trevor McCarthy], and Film Star [post 10, Jose Ortiz].

The Woodward honors the late chairman of the Jockey Club [1930-50] and proprietor of Bel Air Stud, who campaigned Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox and Omaha as well as champions Nasrullah, Nashua, Granville and Johnstown. The Woodward is carded as Race 7 on Saturday’s 11-race program. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.

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Contact: Ryan Martin

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