With his turf star War Like Goddess scheduled to race next year at age 7 and near-certain 2-year-old filly champion Just F Y I set to embark on a 3-year-old campaign, owner George Krikorian can look forward to much in 2024.
Even late 2023. His stable pursues another grade 1 when Big Pond carries his colors in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (G1) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park. The California-bred filly, winner of the restricted Fleet Treat Stakes this summer at Del Mar, is an anticipated threat against an evenly matched lineup expected for the seven-furlong race on opening day of the winter/spring meet at the Southern California track.
Krikorian, already enjoying his finest year by earnings ($2.4 million) as an owner, has a chance to pad that total. If she prevailed—she is likely to be a mid-priced runner in the sprint restricted to 3-year-old fillies—she would give Krikorian his fourth grade 1 win in less than three months.
On Oct. 7, during the Belmont At The Big A meet, Krikorian’s War Like Goddess and Just F Y I won top-level stakes within roughly a half-hour of one another, with the former taking the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) and Just F Y I the Frizette Stakes (G1).
A month later, Just F Y I returned to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita in Krikorian’s home state of California. War Like Goddess also ran well to finish seventh, beaten 4 1/4 lengths, against a star-studded field of males in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T).
The two are now back in South Florida with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and are likely to resume racing in the spring, Krikorian said.
(L-R): Antony Beck, George Krikorian, and Junior Alvarado in the winner’s circle after a win from Just F Y I in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Park
Speaking of War Like Goddess, he said, “She’s going to be 7 years old, but she still acts like she’s 3 or 4, and she’s telling us that she’d be happy to run a while longer. So, as long as she’s happy and healthy, we’ll proceed with that.”
The late-running daughter of English Channel, a long-distance turf specialist, is 11-2-2 in 18 starts with earnings of more than $2.5 million. In 2019, she was purchased as a 2-year-old for $30,000 from the Ocala Breeders’ Sales June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age at the urging of bloodstock adviser Donato Lanni.
She went 2-1-0 in five starts in 2023, making $563,000. In addition to taking the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, she won the Bewitch Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland in her first start of her 2023 season.
“She’s had some frustrating losses, but when she’s had good trips, she really puts a show on,” Krikorian said.
So did his homebred Just F Y I in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. In her first race at 1 1/16 miles and around two turns, she tracked pacesetting favorite Tamara , taking command in the stretch and outlasting Jody’s Pride by a neck.
“I still think about it every day,” said Krikorian, a 78-year-old Palos Verdes resident
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The daughter of Justify improved to 3-for-3 with the victory, having won a maiden race at Saratoga Race Course before the Frizette and Breeders’ Cup.
The owner has since entered her dam, Star Act , and Just F Y I’s sister, born this year, in the upcoming January Horses of All Ages Sale at Keeneland with consignor Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa.
Though Krikorian is an active breeder, raising California-breds and Kentucky-breds and owning Starwood Farm in Kentucky—he calls it “excruciatingly painful” to sell these horses—”You have to look at the business aspect of it,” he said.
Krikorian, raised near Rockingham Park in Salem, N.H., where his late father, George Krikorian Sr., was a trainer in the 1960s through early 1980s, is founder, president, and CEO of Krikorian Premiere Theatres.
In addition to Just F Y I and War Like Goddess, he has campaigned several other grade 1 winners with Hollywood names such as Star Billing , Starrer , and Hollywood Story .
Should all go well in the coming days, Big Pond will have her La Brea chance to join that select company.
“She beat that horse Ceiling Crusher, who is a grade 1 winner,” he said, referring to Big Pond’s win in the Fleet Treat when Ceiling Crusher ran third.
Big Pond wins the Fleet Treat Stakes at Del Mar
Cotillion Stakes (G1) winner Ceiling Crusher, sold for $750,000 to Japanese interests this fall during The November Sale at Fasig-Tipton, and Big Pond are by “my stallion, Mr. Big,” Krikorian said.
A 20-year-old son of Dynaformer who stands 17.2 hands, Mr. Big raced for Krikorian before heading to stud. He is currently the fourth-leading sire in California, standing for a $5,500 fee next year at Legacy Ranch.
The Tim Yakteen-trained Big Pond is expected to face Clearly Unhinged , Daddysruby , Flying Connection , Howl , and others in the La Brea, with entries taken and post positions drawn Dec. 22.
Unraced last year at 2, Big Pond won her first two starts against California-breds on dirt this year before finishing ninth in the Del Mar Oaks (G1T) this summer. In her only other race, she ran second when returned to dirt in a 6 1/2-furlong open first-level allowance optional claimer Nov. 25 at Del Mar in which 4-year-old Signora Minister defeated Big Pond by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:15.66.
“She’s a real nice horse. We had to turn her out for a little while last year,” Krikorian said of Big Pond. “But she’s 110% better now, and I’m looking forward to her running in that race.”
