2023 Eclipse Awards: Idiomatic

Despite a glittery pedigree and towering physique, Idiomatic was an unheralded allowance filly when she began her 2023 campaign in January at Turfway Park for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms and trainer Brad Cox.

“We didn’t have any idea at that time she would turn into what she has become,” Cox said. But the trainer knew she had all the right ingredients. “Big, huge Juddmonte pedigree, and by a world-class sire [Curlin]. When you look at it overall, it’s no shock she’s as good as she is.”

Idiomatic, whose stakes-winning dam Lockdown is a sibling to Grade 1 winner Close Hatches, rose to fame in 2023. A big filly at more than 17 hands, Idiomatic won 8 of 9 starts, including the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She won more graded stakes (five) than any horse in North America and emerged as the favorite to be named the Eclipse Award winner as outstanding older dirt female.

:: Full list of 2023 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

It did not start out that way. Idiomatic entered the year having won only 1 of 3 starts. She won her debut, finished third in an allowance, was off seven months, and finished a modest third in her comeback in late 2022. Her 4-year-old campaign in 2023 unfolded with hardly a blemish.

Her first start of the year was in January on the synthetic track at Turfway Park.

“That’s where she did most of her training. We thought we would keep her on that surface and at some point, transfer over to the dirt,” Cox said.

Idiomatic made it look easy her first start of the year, in an entry-level allowance. She won by more than six lengths, followed by a second-level allowance victory. After winning the $245,000 Latonia Stakes, again at Turfway, it was time to address the challenges of class and footing.

Switching to dirt for the Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park, Idiomatic did not pass the test. In her first graded race, she pressed the pace and finished a distant second. Could it be Idiomatic was merely a synthetic specialist who had been exposed? Hardly.

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Idiomatic did not lose again. Under new rider Florent Geroux, she wired the Grade 3 Shawnee at Churchill Downs, then overcame a stumble to win the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap. Her final three starts of the season were in Grade 1 races.

She wired the Personal Ensign on a sloppy track Saratoga, winning by four lengths. Next out, she took advantage of an easy pace to wire the Juddmonte Spinster at Keeneland by more than four lengths. On to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Idiomatic broke from an inside post and pressed the pace set by Randomized. She took aim at the front-runner into the stretch, but her rival would not go away, even after Idiomatic gained a half-length advantage. Idiomatic maintained her margin to the wire to cap an outstanding season in which she won eight races and $2,400,280 from nine starts. Her career total: 9 for 12, with earnings of $2,456,840.

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