War Like Goddess

George Krikorian Joins TDN Writers' Room Podcast Breeders' Cup Preview Show

George Krikorian has been around the game of racing for a long time and has owned a lot of good horses. But a win in the Breeders' Cup has eluded him. He's 0-for-11. But he has two strong candidates this year in Just FYI (Justify) in the GI Juvenile Fillies and War Like Goddess (English Channel) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, where she will tackle males for the second straight year. Will this be Krikorian's year? Those were among the questions our team asked Krikorian on this week's TDN...

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George Krikorian Joins the TDN Writers' Room

George Krikorian, owner of War Like Goddess and Just FYI, joins the Breeders' Cup edition of the TDN Writers' Room.

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Breeders' Cup Monday Bulletin: Locals, International Challengers On Track

GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) was first onto the main track Monday morning when he worked a bullet five furlongs in :59 flat, will walk at the barn Tuesday, and then is planned to return to the track Wednesday. "He's healthy, he's working well. There have been no hiccups," Baffert said. "He's ready. I know this is going to be a tough race, but if he brings his 'A' game, I don't really care who's running against us. That's my focus with him." The colt made...

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The Week In Review: A Weekend Report Card

The next best thing to the Breeders' Cup is a weekend filled with Breeders' Cup preps. That was the story last week as 31 graded stakes races were contested, many of them races that would help shape the fields for the Breeders' Cup races. Who were the big winners? Who were the big losers? Here's our reports card: Up to the Mark: A+ It had been a depressing year for North American-based turf horses, who lost race after race to European shippers, including some whose credentials were rather modest. Saturday's...

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Saturday Stakes Runners All Exit In Good Order

Up to the Mark (Not This Time) and Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who finished noses apart in Saturday's GI Coolmore Turf Mile, both exited the race in good order, according to their connections. "He [Charlie Appleby] usually likes to let the dust settle a couple days after the race and then decide," traveling lad Chris Connett said. Following the race Saturday, Appleby indicated Master of The Seas could return to Europe Tuesday or Wednesday or possibly stay here if a Breeders' Cup run is in the cards....

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War Like Goddess Goes Back-To-Back in the Joe Hirsch

Her sire won the 2007 GI Breeders' Cup Turf in similarly soft underfoot conditions not far away at Monmouth Park, and George Krikorian's War Like Goddess (English Channel) found the ease in the ground very much to her liking, motoring down the center of the waterlogged course to successfully defend her title in Saturday's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct. With Junior Alvarado at the controls for the first time, the $30,000 OBS June bargain lingered towards the back of the pack through the early exchanges, racing in the...

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A Graded Stakes Saturday We Never Want To End

The parade of graded stakes races this Saturday is like a Christmas tree laden with presents. Towards the end of the celebration, as the wadded paper congregates, there will be a customary wistfulness that slowly sets in. We never want it to end. With 17, yes 17, graded races on the docket--nine of those have Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' status--it is going to be a splendid day to receive as Belmont at the Big A, Keeneland Race Course, Woodbine Racetrack, Gulfstream Park, Hastings Racecourse and Santa Anita Park...

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Tickets Please! Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, Other Graded Action Whistles Into Weekend

Just over 100 years ago, the Jockey Club's resident New York handicapper, William Vosburgh, knew the value of history and understood how it could be applied when he penned his magnum opus, Racing In America, 1866-1921. The turf wordsmith revealed his intent in the Preface when he said, "I shall show that, owing to want of popular support, racing had fallen so low, and so infrequent, as to excite little or no interest." What he was talking about was a sport in crisis, as progressive forces in America drove racing...

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McKulick Denies War Like Goddess In Glens Falls

The thoughtfully named McKulick (GB) (f, 4, Frankel {GB}--Astrelle {Ire}, by Makfi {GB}), who has always been special to the Chad Brown team, added another feather to her cap with a late-flying victory in Thursday's GII Glens Falls S. at Saratoga, denying defending two-time Glens Falls victress--as well as MGISW and 1-2 favorite--War Like Goddess (English Channel) an historic three-peat in the process. When the gates flew in the Glens Falls, 45-1 Elegant Taste (Oxbow) emerged from the early fray with the lead. McKulick raced midpack in a good spot as...

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War Like Goddess Defends Turf In Glens Falls

The influence of Champion grass horse and MGISW English Channel both on the racetrack and in the breeding shed cannot be overstated. After stints at Hurricane Hall, Lane's End and finally, Calumet, we sadly lost him late in 2021, but he still has an active group that continues to carry home his legacy. Who is his most successful offspring? Maybe it's Chicago's own, MGISW The Pizza Man? Or how about MGISW Channel Maker, who just added another graded trophy to his collection last weekend at the ripe old age of...

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“Best of Both Worlds”: Mott at Home at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When three veteran turf writers approached him at his Saratoga barn last week, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott impishly decided to reverse roles. Before the journalists were able to offer more than a hello, Mott started asking pretty much the same questions he knew were coming his way. For several seconds, the interviewee was the light-hearted interviewer. Mott knows the drill. He has been training horses since he was a teenager in Mobridge, South Dakota, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of...

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Marketsegmentation Can't Be Caught In New York

Klaravich Stable's Marketsegmentation (American Pharoah), loose on an easy lead, went wire-to-wire to earn her first top-level success in the GI New York S. at Belmont Park Friday. Sent off at 6-1, the lightly raced 4-year-old was looking to stretch her speed to 10 furlongs following a pair of stakes wins over 1 1/16 miles. She broke alertly and was soon at the head of affairs, setting moderate fractions of :24.56, :50.26 and 1:15.29 while kept well in hand by jockey Jose Ortiz. Finally let loose at the top of...

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