Breeders' Cup Distaff: Idiomatic to get company on front end
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ARCADIA, Calif. – The nation’s top fillies and mares have a new look this autumn after retirements and form declines reshaped the division from its winter origin.
That was before anyone knew anything about an anonymous Midwest allowance filly trained by Brad Cox, before a California-based filly re-emerged from obscurity for Bob Baffert, and before a New York-based maiden had won a single race for Chad Brown.
A lot changed. Cox-trained Idiomatic surged to the top of the division winning four graded stakes, including a pair of Grade 1 runaways. Adare Manor herself won four graded stakes in California, and Randomized won a maiden race in the spring before embarking on a front-running tear, including two graded stakes victories.
Idiomatic, Adare Manor, Randomized, and Brown-trained Search Results enter as the top contenders in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff. It’s a division softened by the exodus of Grade 1 winners Nest, Secret Oath, and Fun to Dream due to retirement or form decline.
Eleven fillies and mares are filling the void in the Distaff, race 7 Saturday. By now, everyone knows the favorite. Idiomatic would cap a surprisingly successful campaign by winning the $2 million race. Who knew a filly who began the year on synthetic in winter at Turfway Park would be favored in the BC Distaff in fall at Santa Anita? No one, not even her trainer.
“Look, we didn’t have any idea she would turn into what she has become,” Cox said this week at Santa Anita. All he knew for certain is the 4-year-old Curlin filly had the ingredients. “Big, huge Juddmonte pedigree, and by a world-class sire. So really, when you look at it overall, it’s no shock she is as good as she is.”
But how good will she be Saturday in the 1 1/8-mile Distaff, and can front-runner Idiomatic cope with a potentially fast pace? Idiomatic, Adare Manor, and Randomized all won preps leading gate-to-wire. The front end of the Distaff could be crowded, which would benefit a host of closers hoping for a meltdown.
Clairiere, two-time Grade 1 winner this year, seeks a return to form after a Saratoga misfire. Pretty Mischievous rallied to win the Kentucky Oaks and two more age-restricted Grade 1s. Wet Paint, a closer trained by Cox, won the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.
The Distaff includes late-running longshots Desert Dawn and Le Da Vida, blinkers-on Hoosier Philly, and A Mo Reay. None is consistently as fast as Idiomatic, who earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures winning four straight, including front-running Grade 1 romps in the Spinster and Personal Ensign with jockey Florent Geroux. But Saturday, Adare Manor and Randomized will keep Idiomatic company early.
“We’re going to break, and be forward and aggressive,” Cox said. “I don’t think she has to have the lead. That’s ultimately up to Florent, where we find ourself into the first turn. As long as she breaks well, and is able to get into that big rhythm.”
Idiomatic drew post 4.
Idiomatic, owned and bred by Juddmonte, has won 8 of 11. This year, she won 7 of 8, and proved in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap in summer she can overcome adversity. She stumbled, lost ground, and won from next-to-last.
Cox also starts Wet Paint and A Mo Reay. Wet Paint has not raced since her runner-up finish to Randomized in the Alabama on Aug. 19. Cox said the late-runner’s layoff was by design.
“She’d had a long year, not missing any dances, so we decided to freshen her up a little bit,” Cox said. “Her last three works at Churchill Downs have been fantastic
“Obviously, she does need a pace setup,” Cox added.
Flavien Prat rides Wet Paint, a 5-for-10 Blame filly owned and bred by Godolphin. Cox also starts A Mo Reay, a Grade 1 winner at Santa Anita in March. A Mo Reay is making her third start since being purchased privately by owner Haruya Yoshida. A Mo Reay, by Uncle Mo, has won 5 of 16.
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Brown seeks his first Distaff with Randomized and Search Results, and both are contenders. Randomized, a 3-year-old Nyquist filly owned by Klaravich Stables, runs best on the front end. Her versatile stablemate is Klaravich-owned Search Results, a 5-year-old by Flatter training super for her career finale.
From post 8 with jockey Jose Ortiz, Brown expects Randomized to utilize her asset – speed. “I would like her to do what she’s been doing, which is go to the lead,” Brown said. “If somebody was absolutely hell-bent at any cost to get there, and the pace was wicked, we’re going to find out if Randomized can rate.”
Randomized, who won her maiden in March, set the pace in all four wins including Grade 2 Beldame and Grade 1 Alabama.
Search Results, a 7-for-16 mare by Flatter, will be ridden by Irad Ortiz. Brown is bullish on her condition and the race complexion. “She’s doing better than ever,” Brown said. “I think she’s better with a target. She’s going to get a target this time.”
Search Results should get a great trip positioned just off the speed. Search Results is to be sold at auction next week.
Adare Manor enters with a five-race win streak including four graded stakes against modest California competition. A 7-for-13 filly owned by Michael Lund Peterson, Adare Manor would be the first Distaff winner for Baffert; jockey Juan Hernandez seeks his first Breeders’ Cup win this year.
“She’s a big, strong filly and it looks like she’s getting better the older she gets,” Hernandez said, acknowledging the filly’s front-running style. “The plan is to stay close,” he said.
Adare Manor goes from post 5, directly outside Idiomatic.
Pretty Mischievous will try to solidify 3-year-old filly championship credentials that include Grade 1 wins in the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn, and Test stakes for owner-breeder Godolphin and trainer Brendan Walsh.
Le Da Vida looms the knockout for trainer Ignacio Correas, who trained 2019 Distaff winner Blue Prize. Le Da Vida, who never switches leads, finished second in the Spinster.
“I know she’s not the best filly in the field, but a certain setup might help her,” Correas said, referring to pace.
Vincent Cheminaud rides the 8-for-24 Chilean-bred.
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