By Christina Bossinakis
LOUISVILLE, KY — Heading up to Friday's first graded stakes race of the day at Churchill Downs, trainer Brad Cox appeared to be oozing confidence in regard to the returning champion older dirt female Idiomatic (Curlin) in the GI Fasig-Tipton La Troienne S. In the 8 1/2-furlong test for fillies and mares, the Juddmonte homebred proved that Cox's instinct had been spot on, winning by 3 3/4-lengths over Free Like a Girl (El Deal) in the slop.
Installed the 4-5 favorite, she argued the issue with Dorth Vader (Girvin), who cut out opening splits of :23.53 and :47 as second choice Xigera (Nyquist) and last season's Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) filled the next two spots .
Assuming control approaching the far turn, Idiomatic was cut loose turning for home, appeared to idle for a few beats but drew off late to win by the authoritative margin.
“She was the class of the field, said winning rider Florent Geroux, who has been aboard the mare in each of her last five starts. “We didn't break as fast as I anticipated…I broke a little flat-footed. I tried to get her in a good spot. I was very content to sit off the flank of the leader on the backside. Once my filly started getting into her stride, you could tell she was getting into a nice rhythm and from there she just went on. You could tell she was looking around a little bit, she gets a little distracted sometimes but she looks like she's back to her old self.”
A winner in three consecutive races over Turfway's synthetic early in her 4-year-old season, the homebred was second in the GII Ruffian S. at Belmont, but wouldn't taste defeat again in 2023, winning five races, including the GI Personal Ensign S., GI Juddmonte Spinster S. and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita.
Added Cox, “I think she runs on anything. I really do believe that. I mean, she obviously put in a good effort here today and she's performed on synthetics, she's performed on the fast dirt obviously. But [the wet track] is always a concern. There is always a lot of pressure when they're the price she is and coming off a layout and with the resume she got being a champion. I enjoy being in the position, but the race had some anxiety behind it.”
As for 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous, who was making her first start since a second in the GI Cotillion S. last September, jockey Tyler Gaffalione was pragmatic about the return effort.
“I thought it was a credible effort,” he said. “It was the first time off a layoff and she was bound to get tired. The sloppy track didn't do us any favors today. It's never been her favorite surface and she struggled quite a bit down the lane. Very proud of her effort and hopefully it's a good year for her.”
Pedigree Notes:
From the family of Broodmare of the Year Best in Show (Traffic Judge), Idiomatic represents a deep Juddmonte family going back several generations. Her dam, Lockdown (First Defence), is out of Rising Tornado, also responsible for her full-sister Champion Older Mare Close Hatches and GII Wood winner Tacitus (Tapit), also runner-up in the GI Belmont S. and GI Runhappy Travers S. Third dam Silver Star (GB) (Zafonic) produced multiple European champion Xaar (GB), also campaigned by Juddmonte.
Lockdown has produced only two live foals since Idiomatic, including her most recent, a filly by Into Mischief, in 2022.
Jockey: @flothejock
Trainer: @bradcoxracing
Owner: @JuddmonteFarms🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/MTsVTdWXWq
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 3, 2024
Friday, Churchill Downs
FASIG-TIPTON LA TROIENNE S.-GI, $1,000,000, Churchill Downs, 5-3, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:43.24, sy.
1–IDIOMATIC, 123, m, 5, by Curlin
1st Dam: Lockdown (SW & MGISP, $445,900),
by First Defence
2nd Dam: Rising Tornado, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Silver Star (GB), by Zafonic
O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent
Geroux. $620,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Older Dirt Female,
13-10-1-2, $3,076,840. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Free Like a Girl, 123, m, 5, by El Deal
1st Dam: Flashy Prize, by Flashy Bull
2nd Dam: Rich Peace, by Rizzi
3rd Dam: Lockpeace, by Hold Your Peace
($5,500 Ylg '20 ESLYRL). O-Gerald Bruno, Jr., Carl J. Gerald,
Chasey Deville Pomier and Jerry Caroom; B-Kim Renee Stover
& Lisa Osborne (LA); T-Chasey Deville Pomier. $200,000.
3–Pretty Mischievous, 123, f, 4, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Pretty City Dancer (GISW, $286,344), by Tapit
2nd Dam: Pretty City, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Pretty Special, by Riverman
'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $100,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 0.83, 12.21, 4.17.
Also Ran: Dorth Vader, Xigera. Scratched: Frosty O Toole, Taxed.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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