Idiomatic indeed sounds like a spectacular filly, embodying the essence of thoroughbred greatness. Her impressive string of Grade I victories in 2023 – the Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga, Spinster Stakes at Keeneland, and the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Park – not only showcases her exceptional talent but also her consistency and resilience at the highest level of racing. She was bred with care in the lush fields of Kentucky by the renowned Juddmonte Farms under the keen eye of Fahad bin Khalid. The farm was significantly involved in breeding Idiomatic’s lineage, including her dam, grand dam (Rising Tornado, by Storm Cat), great-great-grand dam Monroe, and maternal grandsire.
Her journey is one for the books, from an awkward, lanky filly to a powerhouse of agility and grace on the track. Initially, her path to glory wasn’t clear-cut, her towering presence and latent talent making for a slow burn of anticipation. Yet, those in the know, including her exercise riders and the sharp-eyed Florent Geroux, sensed the emerging legend beneath her glossy coat. In the 2023 season, Idiomatic spread her wings, transforming into the queen of the track before our eyes. Her triumphs were not just victories but affirmations of her spirit and grit. She dazzled in the Grade I arena, clinching titles at the esteemed Personal Ensign Stakes, Spinster Stakes, and, in a crowning achievement, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Each win celebrated her spirit, echoing her sire Curlin’s legendary stamina and might.
Guided by the expert hand of Brad Cox, Idiomatic grew into her impressive frame, turning what once seemed like a challenge into one of her greatest assets. Her speed and consistency on the track are undeniable, a reflection of her journey from a promising filly to a racing icon.
As 2024 dawns, the racing community is on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the return of this luminary. The buzz around her potential title as Horse of the Year is palpable, a fitting tribute to her remarkable season. Idiomatic, once a rough diamond, now shines as a paragon of horse racing excellence, her tale not just one of victory but a captivating saga of potential reaching its zenith in the thrilling arena of thoroughbred racing.
Horse Profile
- Foaled: January 27, 2019
- Bred: Kentucky, USA
- Sex: Filly
- Debuted: 2022
- Retirement: N/A
- Death: N/A
- Color and Markings: Bay
- Sire: Curlin
- Dam: Lockdown
- Owner: Juddmonte Farms
- Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
- Trainer: Brad H. Cox
- Primary/Regular Jockeys: Florent Geroux
Characteristics
- Idiomatic’s journey in the racing world is quite the tale of transformation and late blooming. Garrett O’Rourke, the sage of Juddmonte, reflected on her journey, likening her to an “ugly duckling” transformed, her once awkward, gangly limbs now the bearers of her swift, swan-like grace. Her robust frame, standing over 17 hands, initially not in sync with her performance, orchestrated a wave of skepticism. However, as the 2023 season unfurled, she finally started showing promising results and full potential, which made the general manager realize she only needed time.
- Despite her early struggles, her exercise riders and jockey Florent Geroux always praised her, emphasizing her pleasant nature and dreamlike riding quality. This kind of feedback is invaluable and often indicates that there’s more to a horse than early results might show.
- Echoes of the legendary Curlin resonate in her, carrying a “big engine” inside and a very talented and powerful horse. Idiomatic wasn’t just holding a powerful physique but a symbolic “big engine” – a heart brimming with untapped potential, throbbing with the zest and skill of a born winner.
- With her lofty stature, Idiomatic needed just a bit of time to grow into her formidable frame and align her physicality with her burgeoning spirit. Brad Cox, the maestro behind her training, shared a nugget of truth, proclaiming Idiomatic as the giant of his barn and possibly the largest horse he’s ever trained, standing proudly at 17 hands and 2 inches.
- The narrative of her career is one of rapid ascension, marked by a string of victories that would make any bettor’s heart race with excitement. The Distaff showcased her prowess, with Idiomatic marking her territory in the racing world with eight wins out of nine starts in just the first 11 months of 2023, including a breathtaking streak of five straight graded stakes victories, crowned by three consecutive grade 1 stakes triumphs. It speaks volumes about her development and adaptability.
- The progression in her Equibase and Beyer Speed Figures further illustrates her rapid improvement, consistency, and the culmination of her potential into tangible results. She dazzled the tracks, posting Equibase Speed Figures that read like a gambler’s dream sequence—113, 112, 109, 108—complemented by Beyer Speed Figures that tell a tale of unwavering excellence: 101, 100, 102, 99.
Major Won Races
- Shawnee Stakes (2023)
- Delaware Handicap (2023)
- Personal Ensign Stakes (2023)
- Spinster Stakes (2023)
- Breeders’ Cup wins: Breeders’ Cup Distaff (2023)
Achievements
- She won the 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
- She has posted a string of 113-112-109-108 Equibase Speed Figures during her four-race winning streak.
- Her Beyer Speed Figures over the same stretch are 101-100-102-99.
Rankings
- She ranked 4th in Earnings in 2023.
Idiomatic Connections
- Jockey: Florent Geroux
- When Geroux became the Jockey of Idiomatic and won the race on June 3, 2023, in the Shawnee Stakes, together they never lost anymore until their last race on November 5, 2023, in the Breeder’s Cup Distaff.
- Even before the triumphant victories of the filly, Jockey Florent had already seen her potential since he first rode him. As Juddmonte USA manager Garrett O’Rourke recalled in their 2021 conversation with jockey Florent Geroux after working Idiomatic as a juvenile, he mentioned that he thought the horse could be special.
- He ranked 8th in earnings and 60th in wins in 2023.
- He ranked 7th in earnings and 71st in wins in 2022.
- Trainer: Brad H. Cox
- He ranked 1st in earnings and 3rd in wins in 2023.
- He ranked 4th in earnings and 5th in wins in 2022.
- Owner: Juddmonte Farms
- Idiomatic’s dam, grand dam (Rising Tornado, by Storm Cat), great-great-grand dam Monroe, and maternal grandsire are all raised by Juddmonte.
- Juddmonte ranked 3rd in earnings and 58th in wins in 2023.
- Juddmonte ranked 5th in earnings and 41st in wins in 2022.
Racing Career
| Record | Earnings | Fastest Beyer Speed | Highest E Speed Figure |
|---|---|---|---|
12: 9-1-2 | $2,456,840 | 102 | 113 |
| WON RACES | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Finish | Winning Time | Winning Margin | Jockey |
2022 – Three-year-old season | ||||||||
April 3, 2022 | 1 mile | Maiden Special Weight | Turfway Park | 1 | 1:37.52 | 3 lengths | Manuel Franco | |
2023 – Four-year-old season | ||||||||
January 4, 2023 | 1 ¼ miles | Allowance Optional Claiming | Turfway Park | 1 | 2:04.89 | 6¼ lengths | Chris Landeros | |
February 16, 2023 | 1 mile | Allowance Optional Claiming | Turfway Park | 1 | 1:36.40 | 1 ½ lengths | Chris Landeros | |
March 25, 2023 | 1 1/16 miles | Latonia Stakes | Turfway Park | 1 | 1:44.50 | 2 lengths | Chris Landeros | |
June 3, 2023 | 1 1/16 miles | Shawnee Stakes | III | Churchill Downs | 1 | 1:42.13 | 2 ½ lengths | Florent Geroux |
July 8, 2023 | 1 3/16 miles | Delaware Handicap | II | Delaware Park | 1 | 1:50.72 | Head | Florent Geroux |
August 25, 2023 | 1 ⅛ miles | Personal Ensign Stakes | I | Saratoga | 1 | 1:49.12 | 4 lengths | Florent Geroux |
October 8, 2023 | 1 ⅛ miles | Spinster Stakes | I | Keeneland | 1 | 1:49.82 | 4 ¼ lengths | Florent Geroux |
November 5, 2023 | 1 ⅛ miles | Breeders’ Cup Distaff | I | Santa Anita | 1 | 1:50.57 | ½ length | Florent Geroux |
| LOST RACES | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Placement | Time | Lossing Margin | Jockey |
2022 – Three-year-old season | ||||||||
May 6, 2022 | 1 1/16 miles | Allowance Optional Claiming | Churchill Downs | 3 | 1:42.89 | (2 lengths) | Manuel Franco | |
December 7, 2022 | 1 1/16 miles | Allowance Optional Claiming | Turfway Park | 3 | 1:43.88 | (1 ¼ lengths) | Joseph Talamo | |
2023 – Four-year-old season | ||||||||
May 26, 2023 | 1 mile | Ruffian Stakes | II | Belmont Park | 2 | 1:36.13 | (5 ½ lengths) | Trevor McCarthy |
Pedigree
SIRE: Curlin
Curlin is the 2007 and 2008 American Horse of the Year and stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Kentucky. He retired in 2008 as the highest North American money earner, with a total of US$10.5 million. His major racing wins included the 2007 Preakness Stakes, 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and 2008 Dubai World Cup. Timeform assigned a 134 rating for Curlin and called him the best horse in the world on dirt in August 2008. Curlin was also elected to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2014. He was sired by Smart Strike, a former star from the Sam-Son Farm racing team in Ontario, Canada. Smart Strike is a half-brother of 1991 Canadian Triple Crown winner Dance Smartly.
Curlin’s mare, Sherriff’s Deputy, is a daughter of Canadian Horse of the Year and two-time North American Champion sire Deputy Minister.
DAM: Lockdown
Lockdown is a full sister to champion older mare Close Hatches, dam of classic-placed 2019 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Tacitus. Lockdown finished third in the 2017 G1 Kentucky Oaks. Lockdown’s best win was in the 2017 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. Lockwood died in 2022. The dam’s sire First Defence was a Juddmonte Farm’s homegrown Grade I Forego Handicap winner who stood at Juddmonte from 2009 to 16 and then was sold to Haif Stud in Saudi Arabia in 2016.