Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Picks: War Like Goddess Power

The Filly & Mare Turf seems to be flat out dominated by Euro invaders but will Bill Mott's War Like Goddess shine through and win it for the home team? She's the 7-2 favorite on the Morning Line...

Neil's Take...

One of the most impressive three-year-olds last season on turf was the Aidan O’Brien trained Love (#6). This year the daughter of Galileo has only won once from four starts but they’ve all been in mixed races against top competition. She was being pointed to the Prix d’Arc de Triomphe but scratched due to a fever. That lack of recent form might be a concern to some but I’m not with those people. If she breaks well and gets to the front then I’m struggling to see a

Form is temporary and class in permanent so I’m using her as my top choice over the Bill Mott trained Morning Line favorite War Like Goddess (#7). Four straight Graded Stakes victories is a very good reason why this daughter of English Channel is your 7-2 Morning Line favorite. She’s a strong horse who will enjoy the competition but I just think Love is better.

The third top choice on the Morning Line is the Japanese five-year-old Loves Only You (#8). After a very weird 2020 where she went zero for five, a return to form in 2021 has seen her hit the board in four straight including victory in both the Kyoto Kinen and Queen Elizabeth II Cup. That is quite the contrast but as this is her first trip overseas, I’m a little bit wary.

I’m passing on defending champion Audarya (#12) who hasn’t won at all in 2021.

Main: 6, 7

Backup: 4, 8

Order of Preference: 6-7-4-8

J.N's Take...

Kicking off one of the most celebrated sequences in all of racing, it is time to get the engine moving. In this spot, we are going to extend out on the turf in what is one of my favorite Breeders’ Cup races. Going deep in a spot like this one seems sensible, but I am not for it. Why, you ask? It is War Like Goddess #7 kind of day. Bill Mott’s filly has done nothing wrong in her past 4 races. She is able to easily get this distance, and Julien Leparoux has guided her in a masterful way. Her late turn of foot is just devastating, and I would put it on par with the best that Europe can offer in a spot like this one. I know her competition might not exactly equate to what she will see here, but when it comes down to it, I think she has the closing ability.

Just in case she runs into traffic, or does not have her best late gears, I also like Cedric Rossi’s Rougir #4. Last out, in the Prix de l’Opera (G1) at Longchamp, she was just up at the end, in the nick of time. That was a full field of 13 she was up against, and if she can win under those conditions, then why not now? Rossi comes to BC with much promise, and with a seasoned jock like Max Guyon, his charge is going to be pretty tough to go up against. She’s a daughter of Territories (IRE), and appears to be fit as can be. If she takes to the turf, then she might have this one in the bag. It would certainly be nifty to see Rossi come over to the U.S. and notch a win. We will see …

Top Selection: 7

Backup: 4