Juddmonte’s Distaff Win by Idiomatic Helps Curlin Equal his Own Breeders’ Cup Record

In 2022, Hill 'n' Dale's super sire Curlin got a record-setting three winners on Saturday's Breeders' Cup card. In 2023, the remarkable sire equaled that as Juddmonte homebred Idiomatic (Curlin–Lockdown, by First Defence) gave her sire a hard-fought victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff sandwiched between the encore wins by Cody's Wish in the GI Dirt Mile earlier on the card and Elite Power later in the GI Sprint. Idiomatic, who has had a stellar year with eight wins from nine starts, has almost certainly sewn up the Eclipse Award as older female and put herself squarely in the middle of Horse of the Year consideration as well with the win.

“I think she definitely deserves some votes for Horse of the Year,” said trainer Brad Cox. “It's a serious record. It's Horse of the Year, not horse of the fall, horse of the summer, horse of the spring, or horse of the Breeders' Cup. She has had a tremendous year from start to finish. Today was just icing on the cake.”

Idiomatic kicked off 2023 with two optional allowance wins at Turfway Park, followed by her first black-type win in the listed Latonia S. in March. While it's safe to say Idiomatic is the first Breeders' Cup winner to come out of that race, it would catapult Idiomatic to graded company. After a runner-up finish, her only 2023 loss, in the GII Ruffian S., Cox teamed her up with Florent Geroux. The two have never lost in their five consecutive pairings, all graded stakes, and have hit triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures every time. Those five straight included both the GI Spinster S., sponsored by her owner and breeder, and GI Personal Ensign S. in her last two starts.

Geroux reflected on the year immediately following the Distaff: “Her prior victories have been very easy for her, but this one she had to earn it. She showed how great she was, and she deserved to be the champion just because of how much fight she showed today and how much heart.

“Sometimes that's what makes the difference between good horses and great horses, and I think she's one of the greats for sure.”

Idiomatic | Benoit

In Saturday's older-mare showcase, GI Alabama S. winner Randomized (Nyquist) shot to the Distaff lead when the gates flew as Idiomatic, under a hard hold, tracked her in second behind :22.31 and :46.26 fractions. Idiomatic began moving on Randomized with three furlongs to go as MGISW Clairiere–another daughter of Curlin–found a dream seam from the back of the field and threatened menacingly from the inside. Idiomatic and Randomized hooked up on the turn to fight down the lane–yet another great battle in a race which has seen some of the sport's top skirmishes. Idiomatic wore down Randomized to shake loose, but not by much, as a mad scramble ensued behind her and the wire loomed. In the end, Idiomatic, a super-sized filly, prevailed by a half-length over Randomized as Spinster second Le Da Vida (Chi) (Gemologist) outfinished Clairiere for third.

“When I needed her the most, the last eighth of a mile when I really went after her and gave her the indication of going forward,” said Geroux, “she just put her head down and start digging for me really hard. She was all heart in that victory.”

Cox and Geroux had previously partnered for Distaff wins in 2018 and 2020 with Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). It was Juddmonte's first win in the Distaff, although the organization has had a number of other top fillies and mares on the grass in the Breeders' Cup, including 2018 Turf winner Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and 2001 and 2005 Filly and Mare Turf-winning full-sisters Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill) and Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill). Like Idiomatic, they were all homebreds sporting the famed green and pink silks.

After the Distaff, Juddmonte's Garrett O'Rourke added: “[Idiomatic] comes from a pedigree that is Juddmonte through and through. And her dam is Juddmonte, granddam is Juddmonte, her maternal grandsire is Juddmonte. That's tremendously satisfying for an owner/breeder operation like Prince Khalid and his sons.”

On Saturday, Juddmonte also won the aforementioned Sprint with Elite Power, although he was a $900,000 Keeneland September purchase rather than a homebred.

Pedigree Notes:

Juddmonte is recognized across the sport for one of the most extraordinary breeding programs in modern times; in few horses is that more evident than with Idiomatic. A fourth-generation Juddmonte-bred, Idiomatic hails from the direct female line of Broodmare of the Year Best in Show (Traffic Judge), her fifth dam, whose daughters and descendants have produced elite horses for five decades. Among that number was 'TDN Rising Star' and champion Close Hatches, a full-sister to Idiomatic's stakes-winning and multiple Grade I-placed dam, Lockdown. Close Hatches produced 2019 GII Wood Memorial S. winner Tacitus (Tapit), who also placed in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont S.

Idiomatic | Benoit

Juddmonte homebred and broodmare sire First Defence, sire of Close Hatches and Lockdown, hails from Juddmonte Broodmare of the Year Toussaud (El Gran Senor) and is out of that legendary mare's GISW daughter Honest Lady (Seattle Slew). Honest Lady finished second against the boys in the 2000 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint and the 2000 GI Met Mile. First Defence has 14 stakes winners out of his daughters and currently stands in Saudi Arabia, while Lockdown died in 2022 after producing just three foals. Idiomatic is the only one to race to date; her final foal is a yearling filly by Into Mischief named Chasten.

The accolades also continue for Idiomatic's sire Curlin, who notched his sixth individual Breeders' Cup winner Saturday with the Distaff winner. Idiomatic's Breeders' Cup win, combined with Curlin's other Saturday repeat victories, made eight winning World Championship races as a sire for the chestnut. It was also his second consecutive year with the Distaff crown, as he also had 2022 winner Malathaat. The tremendous Curlin has 21 Grade I winners to his credit, as well as 55 graded winners and 98 black-type winners worldwide.

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
LONGINES BREEDERS' CUP DISTAFF-GI, $1,820,000, Santa Anita, 11-4, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:50.57, ft.
1–IDIOMATIC, 124, f, 4, 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. $1,040,000. Lifetime Record: 12-9-1-2, $2,456,840.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Randomized, 121, f, 3, by Nyquist
        1st Dam: French Passport, by Elusive Quality
        2nd Dam: Air France, by French Deputy
        3rd Dam: Twin Propeller, by Known Fact
($420,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Cove Springs, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $340,000.
3–Le Da Vida (Chi), 124, m, 6, by Gemologist
        1st Dam: Viene Cantando (Chi) (MG1SW-Chi, $119,875), by Gstaad
        2nd Dam: Cantan Las Flores (Chi), by Dynamix
        3rd Dam: Lanza Flores (Chi), by Gallantsky
O-Masaiva Inc.; B-Haras Santa Olga (Chi); T-Ignacio Correas, IV. $180,000.
Margins: HF, NO, NK. Odds: 1.80, 7.90, 16.60.
Also Ran: Clairiere, Desert Dawn, Search Results, Adare Manor, Wet Paint, Hoosier Philly. Scratched: A Mo Reay, Pretty Mischievous. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by Fanduel TV.

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Irish Classic Winner Westover To Yushun Stallion Station In Japan

Multiple Group 1 winner and Classic winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Mirabilis, by Lear Fan) has been sold and will stand at Yushun Stallion Station in Japan next year, his owner/breeder Juddmonte announced on Thursday. The Irish Derby hero will be syndicated and a fee will be announced later.

Trained by Ralph Beckett, Westover won on debut at Sandown in August of 2021 and was listed-placed later that year. At three, he won the G3 Bet365 Classic Trial and was a good third in the G1 Derby prior to running off with the Irish Derby by seven lengths. Kept in training at four, he was second to the current Longines World's Best Racehorse Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic this March and ran second in the G1 Coronation Cup in June. Back in the winner's circle in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud in July, he would finish his career with a narrow second in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. and fill the same position in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. An injury sustained in the latter race resulted in his retirement in October. His record stands at 13-4-6-1 and $4,064,813 in earnings.

“Given his tremendously consistent race record, along with his beautiful conformation and pedigree, he is sure to make a successful contribution to the Japanese breeding industry,” Juddmonte said in a statement.

A full-brother to G3 Darley Club S. winner Monarchs Glen (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Westover is out of GIII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. heroine Mirabilis, who also won at stakes level in France, was second in the G3 Prix Miesque and G3 Prix du Pin and took third in the G1 Prix de la Foret. Second dam Media Nox (GB) (Lycius) claimed a pair of grade/group stakes in California and France, and then threw dual Group 1 winner Nebraska Tornado to the cover of Storm Cat.

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Chaldean Joins his Sire Frankel at Banstead Manor Stud

Frankel (GB) is being joined on the Juddmonte roster at Banstead Manor Stud by his Classic-winning son Chaldean (GB) for the 2024 season.

Bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud, Chaldean was a 550,000gns foal purchase by Juddmonte and one of five black-type horses out of the Dutch Art (GB) mare Suelita (GB). The winner of four of his five starts at two, the Andrew Balding-trained colt landed the G3 Acomb S. and G2 Champagne S. before emulating his sire by signing off last year with victory in the G1 Dewhurst S.

His intended first start at two in the G3 Greenham S. ended in ignominious fashion when Frankie Dettori was unseated on exiting the stalls, but the duo quickly made amends when landing the 2,000 Guineas. Chaldean became the 18th horse since 1874 to complete the Dewhurst-Guineas double, joining a list of great names such as Nijinsky, El Gran Senor, Zafonic, Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire), and of course Frankel, making this a unique father-son double.

“Chaldean is just a dream horse; the most professional, uncomplicated, and beautifully balanced horse we have had during his time at Kingsclere,” said Balding. 

“He showed unusual improvement through his unique sequence of prestigious wins in the Acomb Stakes, Champagne Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes at two years old only to improve again to win the 2000 Guineas before his turning three.”

Simon Mockridge, general manager of Juddmonte UK, added, “We would like to extend special thanks to Andrew Balding and the teams at Kingsclere and Juddmonte for guiding and skilfully developing the racing career of Chaldean.

“We look forward to welcoming our Classic winner Chaldean as the first son of Frankel to stand at Banstead Manor Stud, further strengthening Juddmonte's European stallion roster.”

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Kingman’s Well-Related Sparkling Plenty Snags Marseille Feature

Patrice Cottier trainee Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}–Speralita {Fr}, by Frankel {GB}) notched a three-length debut success at Marseille-Borely earlier this month and swooped late over the same course and distance in Monday's Listed Prix Delahante to maintain her perfect record on black-type bow. She was steadied off the tempo and settled into a smooth rhythm racing sixth through halfway in the 8 1/2-furlong contest. Hurried along rounding the home turn, the 9-10 favourite made relentless headway under mild rousting in the straight and kept on strongly to usurp long-time leader Tiffanyli (Fr) (Lethal Force {Ire}) by a length nearing the line for a career high.

Pedigree Notes
Sparkling Plenty, the latest of three foals, is one of two scorers produced by an unraced half-sister to multiple elite-level heroine and US champion Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), herself the dam of three black-type winners headed by MG1SW dual Japanese champion Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}). Descendants of Stacelita also include last term's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) victrix Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). Sparkling Plenty's dam Speralita (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) is also a half-sister to the dam of last month's G1 Prix du Moulin victrix Sauterne (Fr) (Kingman {GB}). The April-foaled homebred bay is a full-sister to G3 Jersey S. victor and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Noble Truth (Fr).

 

Monday, Marseille-Borely, France
PRIX DELAHANTE-Listed, €60,000, Marseille-Borely, 10-23, 2yo, 8 1/2fT, 1:45.19, sf.
1–SPARKLING PLENTY (FR), 122, f, 2, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Speralita (Fr), by Frankel (GB)
2nd Dam: Soignee (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
3rd Dam: Suivez (Fr), by Fioravanti
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€600,000 RNA Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O/B-Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois (FR); T-Patrice Cottier; J-Marvin Grandin. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €41,500. *Full to Noble Truth (Fr), GSW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $275,141.
2–Tiffanyli (Fr), 122, f, 2, Lethal Force (Ire)–La Milletiere (Fr), by Sunday Break (Jpn). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (€11,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Ecuries Puglia, Ecuries Jacques Piasco, Abdelhafidh Dridi, Christophe Escuder & Steeve Puglia; B-Haras de Grandcamp EARL (FR); T-Christophe Escuder. €12,000.
3–Pepete (Fr), 122, f, 2, Attendu (Fr)–Painted Girl (Fr), by Monsun (Ger). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois (FR); T-Jerome Andreu. €9,000.
Margins: 1, 2HF, 1. Odds: 0.90, 15.00, 11.00.
Also Ran: Maywe (Ire), Un Instant (Fr), Louis De La Klauss (Fr), Wikenda (Fr), Dabasir (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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