War Like Goddess tops Robert G. Dick Memorial

Multiple Grade 1 victress #9 War Like Goddess (3-1) will make her first appearance at Delaware Park when leading a cast of nine postward in Sunday’s $250,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial S. (G3). One of two graded tilts on a fine card, the affair boasts multiple excellent performers in a race that is truly worthy of being a graded contest. But, it all starts with the exceptional mare. 

Trained by Bill Mott, the English Channel seven-year-old has a fine 5-3-1-1 mark at the 1 3/8-mile distance, and I thought that she had an ideal prep for the race when a closing third in the New York S. (G1) in her 2024 debut. She was running off of a long absence, and at a distance which is much shorter than her ideal one, so to come home third in that incredibly deep field is a testament to how well she performed at Saratoga. The Kentucky-bred draws well off the rail for the third consecutive outing which is not a benefit, but she is too classy to try and upend in the heat. An expected honest early tempo will surely aid the late runner with Junior Alvarado in the silks. 

I’ll dabble with the Christophe Clement duo in the vertical exotics. #1 La Mehana (6-1) has run a pair of positive races since coming to the States and is well drawn on the fence. The five-year-old daughter of Al Wukair is a Group-1 placed distance specialist who could peak while making her third run since her import with Jose Ortiz taking the reins. 

Clement’s #5 Atomic Blonde (4-1) doesn’t fit my profile as a win threat, but she is talented and consistent, and the mare will be in the mix late for a share with something resembling her top performance. This deep closing type broke an eight-race skid since arriving in the U. S. with a victory in the Keertana S. last time, and she also will be making her third run off the bench in the affair. The gray mare does her best work going long and will have Julien Leparoux in the silks. 

#4 Fredyis The Red (8-1) is a sneaky upset contender for Kenny McPeek. Her best two results to date have come at 1 1/4 miles and 1 5/16 miles, and the Saxon Warrior chestnut has appeal at a fair number with Brian Hernandez, Jr. coming in to ride. 

Robert G. Dick Wagers

$30 win #9 War Like Goddess ($30)
$3 trifecta key 9 with 1,4,5 ($18)