Going for the historic three-peat in this race, War Like Goddess (English Channel) was denied on the line by a hard-closing MCKULICK (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in Thursday’s GII Glens Fall S. at Saratoga. The two-time winner had a difficult trip and expended extra energy fighting Joel Rosario for much of the running while McKulick enjoyed a smoother ride under Saratoga’s current leading rider in Irad Ortiz, Jr. By the time the field swung off the third and final turn, War Like Goddess had the lead but Chad Brown’s entry was closing fast and just got up in the final strides to take the win.
Thursday, Saratoga Race Course
GLENS FALLS S.-GII, $250,000, Saratoga, 8-3, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/2mT, 2:27.05, fm.
1–MCKULICK (GB), 120, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Astrelle (Ire) (GSP-Eng), by Makfi (GB)
2nd Dam: Miss Mariduff, by Hussonet
3rd Dam: Sopran Mariduff (GB), by Persian Bold (Ire)
(180,000gns Ylg ’20 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Essafinaat UK Ltd (GB); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $137,500. Lifetime Record: GISW, 11-4-4-2, $1,405,720. *1/2 to Fearless King (GB) (Kingman {GB}), GSW-Ger; 1/2 to Just Beautiful (GB) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}), GSW-Ire, GSW-Eng, GSP-Fr, $209,461. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–War Like Goddess, 122, m, 6, English Channel–Misty North, by North Light (Ire). ($1,200 Wlg ’17 KEENOV; $1,000 RNA Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $30,000 2yo ’19 OBSOPN). O-George Krikorian; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-William I. Mott. $50,000.
3–Amazing Grace (Ger), 122, m, 5, Protectionist (Ger)–Amabelle (Ger), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€850,000 4yo ’22 ARQDEC). O-Moyglare Stud Farm, Ltd.; B-Chr. Berglar (GER); T-Christophe Clement. $30,000.
Margins: NK, 2 1/4, HD. Odds: 4.20, 0.50, 7.90.
Also Ran: Sopran Basilea (Ire), Vergara, Virginia Joy (Ger), Elegant Taste.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Chad Brown gets his first victory in the Glens Falls (G2) with MCKULICK and @iradortiz! #Saratoga pic.twitter.com/dvMgOrcQb9
— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) August 3, 2023
