LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Idiomatic showed the heart of a champion, overcoming a less than ideal trip over a sloppy racetrack to launch her 2024 season the same way she closed out her Eclipse Award-winning 2023 campaign, with a game and impressive 3 3/4-length victory in Friday’s $1 million La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs. Idiomatic came into the Grade 1 La Troienne idle since sewing up divisional honors with her half-length triumph over Randomized six months earlier in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The Distaff put an exclamation point on a championship season during which she captured nine of 10 starts, the last three victories coming in Grade 1 Stakes. Facing just four rivals, including reigning 3-year-old filly champion Pretty Mischievous, and racing over a sealed and sloppy racetrack, Idiomatic ducked in a bit and broke a step slow under regular rider Florent Geroux before rushing up along the inside to stalk the early pace set by Dorth Vader. Geroux urged Idiomatic along the rail to join Dorth Vader near the 4 1/2-furlong pole and the pair raced as a team to the top of the stretch. At that point Idiomatic began to slowly edge clear. She repulsed a mild bid to her inside from longshot Free Like a Girl through the furlong grounds before drawing off readily under vigorous urging to the end. The Louisiana-bred Free Like a Girl, making a rare appearance out of statebred company and her Grade 1 debut in the La Troienne, lagged at the rear of the compact lineup for nearly six furlongs. She advanced quickly to close contention when roused by jockey Corey Lanerie midway on the second turn, got within a half-length of the winner nearing the furlong marker,  but was no match for the champion at the end. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  Pretty Mischievous raced within easy striking distance of the dueling leaders, angled widest while joining that pair turning for home but could not sustain her bid and flattened out through the final furlong. Pretty Mischievous was making her first start since finishing second over a sloppy track in the Grade 1 Cotillion last September at Parx.  Dorth Vader held gamely with Idiomatic for seven furlongs before weakening to finish fourth. Xigera was forwardly placed before giving way suddenly on the second turn, ultimately being eased to the wire to finish a distant fifth and last. Frosty O’Toole and Taxed were scratched. The La Troienne was Idiomatic’s sixth straight win and ninth in her last 10 starts. Trained by Brad Cox, the 5-year-old Juddmonte homebred by Curlin completed a mile and one-sixteenth in 1:43.24 seconds and paid $3.66. Idiomatic earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95. “Big effort,” said Cox. “I was kind of hoping we’d either get the lead and establish the front, or track the outside horse. Instead, we found ourselves tracking the outside horse from the inside, which isn’t ideal. “At the three-eighths pole I was a little concerned, he [Geroux] started knuckling down on her a little bit but she really responded. I was watching Corey [Lanerie] on the three horse [Free Like a Girl] make a move on the inside, I think she felt some of that pressure, and kicked away.” Even though Idiomatic had won the Grade 1 Personal Ensign last summer at Saratoga over a sloppy surface, Cox admitted to being a bit concerned about the track conditions on Friday. “I think she runs on anything, I really do believe that,” said Cox. “But it’s always a concern and there’s a lot of pressure because of the short price, coming off a layoff, and with the résumé she’s got. “Being a champion. I enjoy being in that position, but there is some anxiety to go along with it.” Cox said he believes Idiomatic is every bit as good right now as she was last year. “You never really know, there’s times when these mares, as they get a little bit older, may not be as good, but I think she’s set up for a big year from what we’ve seen from her so far,” he said. “She’s on it right now and hopefully we can have it that way the rest of the year.” Cox said he can see a scenario where Idiomatic could race against males later this season. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. “At some point I think it’s a possibility she could run against males,” said Cox. “It may not be her next start, but if we want to try to get Horse of the Year, it kind of showed last year that you probably have to face the best of another division in regards to the girls.” Trainer Brendan Walsh said he felt the wet footing was not to Pretty Mischievous’ advantage in the La Troienne, especially coming off a near eight-month hiatus. “I think she’s much better on a drier track and I think she fell apart a little bit at the end over this track today,” said Walsh. “She won over the slop here as a 2-year-old, although she wasn’t in love with it. But we got a run into her, and overall, I think she ran well.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.