Struggle Like Goddess Seeks Second Flower Bowl Win

A horse’s superior age is hardly a stumbling block when a Thoroughbred is within the fingers of Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott.

Only a yr in the past, when Mott acquired the Eclipse Award for Excellent Coach for a fourth time, he gained graded stakes with a 2-year-old champion in Simply FYI and Channel Maker , who gained the Bowling Inexperienced Stakes (G2T) on the age of 9.

So, it ought to come as no shock that Mott has George Krikorian’s grade 1-winning mare Struggle Like Goddess  again in successful kind on the strong age of seven and can run her as one of many favorites within the $500,000 Flower Bowl Stakes (G2T), a Breeders’ Cup Problem race for fillies and mares Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course.

“She ended up the yr good final yr and the proprietor was advantageous with operating her,” Mott stated. “She’s come again advantageous and she or he’s solely run twice, however she’s run properly every time.”

A winner of two grade 1 stakes, together with the 2021 Flower Bowl when it was a grade 1, the sturdy daughter of English Channel has made 20 begins since beginning her profession in 2020 and owns 12 wins and earnings of $2,775,184.

She began this yr with a rallying third at Saratoga within the June 7 New York Stakes (G1T), which was a tad quick for her at 1 3/16 miles, then gained the July 7 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes (G3T) at Delaware Park, which was contested at a extra appropriate 1 3/8 miles.

“She appeared good in her final race and we gave her a pleasant break since then,” Mott stated. “She’s labored properly and we’re seeing what we have to see from her.”

Going 1 3/8 miles round three turns within the Flower Bowl ought to swimsuit Struggle Like Goddess’ late-running type. As a “Win and You are In” stakes for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), it may pave the way in which for a fourth journey to the Breeders’ Cup, particularly with the Filly & Mare Turf contested at 1 3/8 miles this yr at Del Mar.

In her three earlier appearances on the World Championships, the Calumet-bred daughter of the North Mild (IRE) mare Misty North was third in each the 2022 BC Turf (G1T) and 2021 Filly & Mare Turf.

The 9 turf entrants for the Flower Bowl additionally embody the Saratoga-loving McKulick , who has three wins and two seconds in 5 begins on the Spa’s grass programs.

Klaravich Stables’ daughter of Frankel   additionally thrives at longer distances and is coming off a victory within the 1 1/2-mile Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) on the meet for main coach Chad Brown.

She was second in final yr’s Flower Bowl to West Level Thoroughbreds and Dream With Me Stables’ Parnac , who can also be within the discipline and was second, 2 1/4 lengths behind McKulick within the Glens Falls for coach Christophe Clement.

Brown can even ship out Klaravich’s Thought Era , a daughter of Dubawi  who was second final yr within the 1 3/8-mile Waya Stakes.(G3T).

The sector additionally consists of Godolphin’s Teofilo  filly Everlasting Hope , who was fourth as the favourite within the Glens Falls, and Michael Milam’s Pennsylvania-bred Neecie Marie  (Cross Site visitors  ), who was third within the Beverly D. Stakes (G2T).