Some of the most talented long-distance female turf horses in North America are set to face off at 1 3/8 miles at Saratoga Race Course in Saturday’s $600,000, Grade 2 Flower Bowl Stakes, including the division leader herself, #4 War Like Goddess.
There are no certainties in horse racing, but War Like Goddess looks mighty close to a sure winner in the Flower Bowl, which offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland this fall.
War Like Goddess was North America’s most accomplished long-distance female turf horse in 2021, when she counted the Flower Bowl (then a Grade 1) among her four graded stakes wins. The daughter of 2007 champion turf male English Channel wrapped up the year with a close third-place finish behind Japanese star Loves Only You in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, in which War Like Goddess was beaten only half a length after leading in midstretch.
But as good as War Like Goddess was last year, she might be even better this season. She kicked off her campaign with an impressive victory in the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland, in which she overcame traffic and rallied into an unbelievably slow pace to win comfortably by 1 3/4 lengths. Then, War Like Goddess tackled the Grade 2 Glens Fall Stakes at Saratoga and again rallied from behind a slow pace to score by an easy 1 1/4 lengths.
The fact that War Like Goddess has repeatedly shown the ability to overcome unfavorable pace setups and win decisively is a testament to her talent. A terrific burst of homestretch acceleration is her greatest weapon, but she’s also shown a bit more tactical speed under the guidance of jockey Joel Rosario this season. If War Like Goddess works out a clean trip while seeking a repeat win in the Flower Bowl, victory should be a near certainty.
Of course, this makes things tricky for bettors hoping to cash a big payoff in the Flower Bowl, because War Like Goddess is bound to start at a short price and won’t be worth betting to win. If we want to generate a decent return on investment, we’ll have to go big with exotic wagers like the trifecta and superfecta instead.
So, who should we use underneath War Like Goddess? #6 Temple City Terror and #3 Virginia Joy are logical choices after finishing second and third behind War Like Goddess in the Glens Falls. Of the pair, we’ll favor Virginia Joy, who posted victories in the Grade 3 The Very One Stakes and Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes earlier this year. Virginia Joy spent much of the Glens Falls buried in traffic on the inside and couldn’t put her tactical speed to best use. She led from start to finish in dominating the Sheepshead Bay by 14 1/4 lengths and is eligible to improve with an unencumbered journey in the Flower Bowl.
The credentials of Temple City Terror are solid as well. She closed nicely into the slow Glens Falls pace, and three starts back she unleashed a last-to-first rally to win the 1 1/2-mile Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs for the second straight year. Temple City Terror is an effective long-distance turf mare with the talent to compete at this level.
We’ll also support #1 Capital Structure, who recently overcame a pedestrian pace to rally and win a 1 3/8-mile allowance-optional claiming race at Saratoga by two lengths. Conditioned by top turf trainer Chad Brown, Capital Structure finished just half a length behind Virginia Joy in a Belmont Park allowance-optional claimer during the spring of 2021 and still has upside for improvement while racing for only the third time this year.
Depending on how big a budget you’ve allocated for betting the Flower Bowl, we’ve outlined a pair of wagering strategies to consider. One focuses exclusively on the trifecta, while the other adds a superfecta to the mix.
Wagering Strategy on a $10 Budget
$5 trifecta: 4 with 3 with 1,6 ($10)
What to say at the betting window: Saratoga, 10th race, $5 trifecta 4 with 3 with 1,6
Wagering Strategy on a $30 Budget
$10 trifecta: 4 with 3 with 1,6 ($20)
What to say at the betting window: Saratoga, 10th race, $10 trifecta 4 with 3 with 1,6
$2.50 superfecta: 4 with 3 with 1,6 with 1,6 ($10)
What to say at the betting window: Saratoga, 10th race, $2.50 superfecta 4 with 3 with 1,6 with 1,6
Good luck, and enjoy the race!
Pick 4
5-1-4-3
5-1-4-3
$1,274
Superfecta
3-4-5-6
3-4-5-6
$12
Pick 4
5-1-4-3
5-1-4-3
$1,274
Superfecta
3-4-5-6
3-4-5-6
$12
