The late Prince Khalid Abdullah of Juddmonte Farms was an astute breeder who developed some of the most accomplished female families in the Stud Book in the latter part of the 20th Century and early 21st Century. The fruits of his work were on full display on Sunday at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., when Juddmonte homebred Idiomatic scored her fourth consecutive graded stakes victory and second Grade 1 in the $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster, a race the winning owner sponsors.
Ridden by Florent Geroux for trainer Brad Cox, the 4-year-old daughter of Curlin jumped out to an early lead and was never challenged en route to an easy 4 1/4-length victory in the Keeneland fall meet's top race for fillies and mares. Le Da Vida finished second, with Bellamore 2 1/2 lengths back in third and Nest – the 2022 champion 3-year-old filly – fourth in the field of six, beaten 11 1/4 lengths. Sixtythreecaliber and Malloy completed the order of finish.
Sent away at even money, with Nest the 4-5 favorite, Idiomatic paid $4.12 to win after racing nine furlongs on a fast track in 1:49.82. She set all the fractions: 24.49, :48.31, 1:12.24, and 1:36.82.
The Spinster is a “Win and You're In” Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race giving automatic fees-paid entry to the Distaff, to be run Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. It's a race that has eluded Juddmonte, one of the biggest supporters of the Breeders' Cup since its inception in 1984. This was Juddmonte's second Spinster win, the previous one coming in 2013 with Emollient when Keeneland had an all-weather track.
Geroux was asked how easy it was winning aboard Idiomatic.
“Actually, it was not easy looking at the race on paper with Nest being in there, a very good filly,” Geroux said. “But my filly just keeps on improving and we know the distance is not a problem. She just keeps improving, and (trainer) Brad (Cox) and his team had her at her prime again today. She's just getting better and better, and I can't wait to ride her again.”
Idiomatic is the fourth generation of mares owned and bred by Juddmonte. She is a daughter of Lockdown (by Juddmonte's First Defence), a stakes winner who was G1 placed but could do no better than fourth in the 2017 Spinster. Lockdown's dam, Rising Tornado, was a daughter of Storm Cat who raced without great success in Europe for Andre Fabre. Her dam, Silver Star (by Juddmonte's Zafonic), also raced for Fabre in Europe. Silver Star was produced from the Sir Ivor mare, Monroe, bred by Darrel and Lindy Brown. The Browns raced Monroe dam, Best in Show, who produced Kentucky Oaks winner Blush With Pride. Best in Show would be named a Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Broodmare of the Year.
This the first Juddmonte Spinster victory for Cox.
“It's very special, and I want to thank (owner Fahad bin) Mr. Khalid and his family and obviously the Juddmonte team here in America,” said Cox. “This is a big win for this filly, it's her second Grade 1. She's had a fantastic year. (This race is) a 'Win and You're In' (for) the Breeders' Cup so we're excited about that. I've run four or five fillies in the past in (the Juddmonte Spinster) and haven't had much luck, so she was able to break through for us today.
“She's a tremendous talent, very physical, really. When I was saddling her in the Paddock, I was, like, 'Wow, she's the biggest horse I've ever trained.' She's a monster. She has a tremendous stride and covers so much ground. She's really a freak – I mean, she really is a tremendous talent, and we're very fortunate to have her.”
Idiomatic now has eight wins with one second and two thirds from 11 starts. She's won seven of eight this year. Her win streak began in the G3 Shawnee in June, continued with the G2 Delaware Handicap in July, and the G1 Personal Ensign over Secret Oath and Nest in August.
Cox is looking ahead to the Distaff, a race he won twice with Monomoy Girl in 2018 and 2020.
“It comes down to, you know, California is speed, she's got speed, and we'll see who else signs on,” Cox said. “It'll be a showdown, I'm sure.”
The post ‘She’s Really A Freak’: Idiomatic Runs Away With Spinster En Route To Breeders’ Cup Distaff appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
