Modestly bred, British Idiom (Flashback) brought only $40,000 as a Fasig-Tipton October yearling in 2018, but by the time she debuted at Saratoga in August, the chestnut had attracted powerhouse connections in Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables and trainer Brad Cox. Backed to narrow favoritism in that six-furlong career bow, she pressed the pace and drew off to a 3 1/2-length score. Adding Lasix and stretching out to two turns in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. Oct. 4 at Keeneland, she was a powerful victress, taking over on the turn and kicking clear in the lane for a 6 1/2-length romp. She got hooked into a dogfight for the first time in her young career in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 1 at Santa Anita, as the promising Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo) gave her all she could handle, but British Idiom showed her grit and wore that foe down to prevail by a neck, all but locking up her 2-year-old filly championship. Getting almost two months off as a reward for her efforts, she returned to the worktab Dec. 29 at Fair Grounds with an eye towards making her sophomore debut in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 15 in New Orleans.
Accepting the Award…
“What a fantastic year she had! She is not only fast, but mentally tough and she is one of the sweetest fillies you could possibly imagine. Thank you to Brad Cox and his team for doing such a great job training British Idiom and to Javi Castellano for three beautiful rides. Thanks to Liz Crow, Paul [Sharp] and his team for selecting British Idiom at the Fasig-Tipton sale. And, thank you to Brad Weisbord and his team for managing the filly as well as managing her owners. As much fun as British Idiom has been, it wouldn't be nearly as much fun without my longtime partners Mike Dubb and Mike Caruso. We have been racing horses together for over a decade. One could not ask for better partners or better human beings. Mike and Mike have done so much for this sport and their communities, it is honor to call them friends and share this honor with them. To my more recent partner Sol Kumin, Sol brings a level of enthusiasm to racing that few can match. To my wife Suzanne, who takes great pleasure in seeing her husband take great pleasure in the sport of racing. On behalf of the entire British Idiom team, thank you for this Eclipse Award. We invite you to enjoy the ride of British Idiom's campaign because who doesn't love a good British Idiom?” —Stuart Grant of the Elkstone Group, co-owner
Early Impressions…
“She was really level-headed and a smart filly from the moment I saw her at the Fasig October sale. She was a really athletic, good-sized strong filly. She had everything I was looking for aside from the pedigree. As far as Flashback goes, he stands for $3,500 in Pennsylvania. So I was a little leery of the page, but I've had luck with the Tapit line–Monomoy Girl is by Tapizar. I've always been the type of buyer who looks for physical first and pedigree second and she was probably one of my favorite physicals in the sale. She also had the mentality to go with it.” —bloodstock agent Liz Crow
Storm the Court (Court Vision) has been overlooked for most of his young career thus far, but that changed with his recognition as an improbable champion 2-year-old male. Bought by horseman Bryan Rice for just $5,000 as a Fasig-Tipton February yearling in 2018, he blossomed in the ensuing year and sold for $60,000 to the shrewd Marette Farrell after breezing a quarter-mile in :21 2/5 at OBS April as the only representative of his sire in the entire sale. Scoring a 12-1 upset of his debut Aug. 10 at Del Mar, he was stepped up by trainer Peter Eurton into the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity next out. That race is infamous for the antics of heavy favorite Eight Rings (Empire Maker), who ducked in sharply soon after the start and unseated his rider. Storm the Court, who also lost his pilot because of the incident, was a mere footnote in the affair. He did little to make a name for himself in the GI American Pharoah S., finished a well-beaten third behind an Eight Rings that was on his best behavior Sept. 27 at Santa Anita. That led to him being dismissed at nearly 46-1 in the GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 1 in Arcadia, but the bay kept finding more after setting a quick pace, and dug in resolutely to turn back fellow longshot Anneau d'Or (Medaglia d'Oro) by a head, pulling off the biggest stunner of the World Championship weekend. Drilling steady at his Santa Anita base, Storm the Court is slated to take his first step as a sophomore on the GI Kentucky Derby trail in the Feb. 9 GII San Vicente S.
Accepting the Award…
“I am incredibly honored to accept this award on behalf of the entire Storm the Court team. There are many people who have contributed to this colt's special moment. Marette Farrell and her team who do all the bloodstock work for Exline-Border are some of the hardest-working people I know. They are honest, diligent and I can confidently say we would not be standing here today without their guidance. Peter Eurton did an excellent job with 'Storm.' Peter is an excellent horseman, but he's like family to us. He has continuously delivered us success on the biggest of stages and we are lucky to have him on our team.” —Ryan Exline of Exline-Border Racing, co-owner
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