Idiomatic eyes Ogden Phipps after La Troienne victory

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Brad Cox reported all was well with his champion filly Idiomatic, 24 hours after she launched her 2024 campaign with an impressive 3 3/4-length victory in Friday’s Grade 1 La Troienne over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs.

“She looked great this morning,” Cox said shortly after sending out Pure Force to win his career debut in the opening race on Saturday’s Kentucky Derby program.

Cox was still reveling in Idiomatic’s effort off the six-month layoff in the La Troienne, when she had to overcome a bit of a slow start and early pace pressure from Dorth Vader before asserting her class to draw off readily in the final furlong.

“That was really a big run,” Cox said. “She got away a touch flat-footed and they were going pretty quick up front. For her to respond the way she did in the final furlong, off the layoff, just showed how good she is.”

Cox said he’s still not sure what would be next for Idiomatic, a winner of nine of her last 10 starts dating back to the start of her 2023 championship campaign, but he said the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Saratoga on June 8, Belmont Stakes Day, would be the most likely option.

Idiomatic was the first of two graded stakes winners on Oaks Day for Cox, who also won the Grade 2 Alysheba with the Godolphin homebred First Mission.

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“He looked very good this morning as well, and I’d have to think the way he performed yesterday, with the timing, it’s eight weeks and one day, that we’ll probably bring him back here next in the [Grade 1] Stephen Foster.” on June 29.

Cox capped his big day here Friday with Almostgone Rocket, who followed her 11 3/4-length debut win at Oaklawn Park four weeks earlier with a popular and very convincing 4 1/4-length high-priced optional-claiming and allowance win in the penultimate race on the Oaks Day card. The 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief earned a career-high 93 Beyer Speed Figure for her performance.

“She was impressive and came out in good order,” Cox said. “I’m not sure where she’ll land next. I’ll definitely look at a stakes next time, and it will definitely be at one turn. We’ll just see what’s out there that makes good sense.”

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