George Krikorian’s Kentucky-bred War Like Goddess captured her fourth consecutive Graded stakes race and became a Grade 1 winner with a facile victory in the Flower Bowl Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 4.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 4-year-old daughter of English Channel scored by 2 ¼ lengths in the 11-furlong turf affair, earning a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) in November at Del Mar.

Sent off as the odds-on wagering favorite, War Like Goddess, with regular rider Julien Leparoux in the irons, ran to expectations. She turned for home full of run, took command at the eighth pole, and powered home to stop the timer in 2:13.07, winning as much the best.

“When they were coming out of the turn; I was watching the race and the pillar from the grandstand was in the way, so I didn’t know if she was still on the inside or the outside,” said Mott who notched his fifth win in the Flower Bowl. “Then by the time she came, I could see that she made her way to the outside and was clear.”

A $30,000 acquisition from the OBS June Sale in 2019, War Like Goddess won the Glens Falls Stakes (G2) at Saratoga in her previous outing. She annexed the Bewitch Stakes (G3) and the Orchid Stakes (G3) prior to that. Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, War Like Goddess is produced from the North Light (IRE) mare Misty North. With the win, War Like Goddess is now a winner in six of seven starts. The $330,000 winner’s share of the purse elevated her career bankroll to more than $700,000.

“She’s a classy filly,” said Leparoux. “You can do whatever you want, and she’ll still give you that punch in the end. It’s nice. It’s a sign of the good ones, for sure. “Bill Mott knows how to get them to these Grade 1s. They took their time with her, and it has paid off.”

Mott indicated that War Like Goddess could train up to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Fellow Kentucky-bred Great Island finished second. Winner of the Matchmaker Stakes (G3) on July 17 at Monmouth Park, Great Island was ridden by Joel Rosario for owner Alpha Delta Stables and trainer Chad Brown.

“We’ll talk about that, but there’s a good possibility of that,” Mott said. “She seems to run pretty well fresh, so maybe that’s what we’ll do.”