British Idiom works in company, on schedule for Rachel Alexandra Stakes

Two-year-old filly champion British Idiom took another step toward her 3-year-old debut Feb. 15 in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes with an in-company five-furlong workout Sunday morning at Fair Grounds.

British Idiom was timed in 1:01.80, a full second slower than her work the week before, but a more than satisfactory morning showing.

“Not as fast this week, but she worked really, really good,” trainer Brad Cox said. “She’ll do something easier next Sunday and then that’s it.”

British Idiom, regardless of what she does in 2020, already has outrun her pedigree and purchase price. She was purchased as a yearling for just $40,000, though other owners have since signed on and British Idiom now is campaigned by a partnership of prominent owners.

The filly is by Flashback, whose first foals raced in 2018, and is his top-earning progeny by about $1.2 million. Only two other horses by Flashback have earned even six figures, while British Idiom banked more than $1.3 million in 2019 following a Saratoga debut win and victories in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. British Idiom was produced by the mare Rose and Shine, who is by Mr. Sekiguchi. Her two other foals to race both are winners, including stakes winner Parade of Roses.

While British Idiom nearly is ready to race, two more prominent females in Cox’s Fair Grounds string are farther from their first start of 2020. Covfefe, who came back from a winter break in mid-January, is galloping sharply and will have her first work of the year within a couple weeks, Cox said. Covfefe was champion female sprinter and champion 3-year-old filly of 2019, and her connections have designs on races like the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland in April and the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs in May.

Also galloping forwardly is the 2018 3-year-old filly champion, Monomoy Girl, who hasn’t started since winning the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Monomoy Girl got back into training on a couple occasions during 2019 but never came close to making a race. Cox said all has gone well with her since she returned from a Florida farm in late December and, so far, this comeback is going along straightforwardly.