What’s On Track: Thoroughbred Hotbeds Headline a Steady Stakes Weekend

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon

Four the History Books

War Like Goddess (3-5) has a chance to do something this Friday at Keeneland that’s only been accomplished six times in the history of North American professional sports: win four consecutive championships.

Instead of the Larry O’Brien or World Series trophies, the 7-year-old mare is after her fourth straight Bewitch (G3T) crown. The William Mott trainee’s string of dominance in the $300,000 began in April of 2021 with a 3 ¾-length score. War Like Goddess then followed her landmark effort with wins by 1 3/4 lengths and 1 ½ lengths in 2022 and ’23, respectively.

Should the Junior Alvarado mount complete the superfecta, she will also have captured her 10^th career graded title (11-2-2 in 18 starts with 9 graded wins heading in).

Luck of the Irish

Besides both sporting an Irish background, both Bellabel (IRE) and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team share fond memories of their time in California. The former is 2-0-0 in three career starts at Santa Anita (two stakes wins), while the latter is a combined 83-51-5 all-time against USC, Stanford, UCLA, and UC Berkeley.

Bellabel can keep the legacy of Irish dominance alive with a win in Saturday’s $100,000 Royal Heroine (G3T) at Santa Anita. The 5-year-old mare has struck gold at the west coast track before, recording wins in the Blue Norther Stakes and February’s Megahertz (G3T).

Overall, the Phil D’Amato trainee sports a 4-2-2 line through 11 starts. Bellabel enters the Royal Heroine at 5-1.

Golden Opportunity

One of the longest and most painful championship hangovers going belongs to 4-year-old Balnikhov (IRE), who has not found the winner’s circle since taking last April’s San Francisco Mile (G2T) by a nose. Luckily, the gelding returns to the friendly confines of Golden Gate Fields for another shot at the $175,000 contest.

It’s been seven straight fruitless trips around the California circuit for Balnikhov (3-1), who hasn’t come particularly close to reversing his fortunes outside of a second in last July’s Eddie Read (G2) and a third in November’s Seabiscuit Handicap (G2).

Like any streak, good or bad, Balnikhov’s will end eventually. If anything’s going to serve as the catalyst that turns things around for the Antonio Fresu mount, it’s the San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate.

Close, but no Cigar

If there was an award for almost winning, then Last Leaf (10-1) would be one of the most decorated Thoroughbred’s in history. The 5-year-old mare with a penchant for the wide-sides of the podium can take center stage with a breakthrough performance in this Saturday’s $200,000 Roxelana Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The well-travelled competitor (29 career starts) has nearly twice as many combined seconds (six) and thirds (seven) as she does wins (7). While that may seem odd, the answer is actually quite simple. The Eddie Kenneally protégé has finished either second or third in her last nine appearances, six of which came at the stakes level.

Last time out in the $200,000 Barbara Fritchie (G3), Last Leaf finished one-length off the pace. Perhaps the Angel Cruz pilot will play a starring role in popularizing the phrase “10^th time’s the charm.”

Train Delay

The last time Express Train competed on the pro circuit, Tom Brady was still slinging passes for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That was Oct. 1, 2022. Fast forward 574 days, and the 7-year-old is ready to make a triumphant return in the $100,000 Kona Gold at Aqueduct.

The California circuit regular with 20 career starts to his name will be making just his second appearance outside The Golden State on Saturday afternoon. The John Shirreffs trainee has performed admirably in those 20 contests, collecting five graded wins, including the Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

Overall, Express Train (6-1) has landed in the top three in 75 percent of his races, going 7-5-3.

ent of his races, going 7-5-3.