Betting with, and against, War Like Goddess in the Flower Bowl

Seven fillies and mares will go 1 3/8 miles on the Saratoga inner turf in Saturday’s $600,000 Flower Bowl S. (G1). The horse to beat in the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” affair is the Bill Mott-trained #3 War Like Goddess, who was a sensational 3 1/4-length victress of the Glens Falls S. (G2) on the surface last time out. The once-beaten filly continues to improve and will be tough to knock off with her best showing on Saturday.

War Like Goddess -- With

I don’t see a lot of chinks in the armor of the daughter of English Channel at this stage of her development. Bred in the Bluegrass State, the bay has a punishing late burst, she is proven on the course and at the trip, and has room for improvement with just six lifetime outings on her resume. She will be a logical single on many tickets, and a key on top of the vertical exotics.

#1 La Signare is a horse with appeal to me on the stretch out for conditioner Brendan Walsh. The six-year-old has placed in a trio of Grade 1 races in succession, and she is well drawn on the rail with Ricardo Santana in the silks.

#2 American Bridge is the wildcard in the field and is worth including for sure. A Grade 3 heroine in Italy last time out, the Kodiac four-year-old's form is difficult to assess and she should be kept safe in her U. S. bow with Irad Ortiz taking the reins.

Wager

• $20 exacta 3 with 1,2 ($40)
• $5 trifecta key 3 with 1,2 ($10)

War Like Goddess -- Against

I believe that to beat War Like Goddess, it will have to be done from in front of her as not many horses can match her turn of foot in the stretch. La Signare has flashed good tactical speed at the highest level while racing at shorter trips, and I expect her to be put into the race early from the fence with the added ground with which to work with on Saturday. If the bay can lead, or track, a slow tempo, then she will surely improve on her fifth-place result in this race in 2020.

Wager

• $8 trifecta 1 with 3 with all ($40)
• $2 trifecta 1 with all with 3 ($10)