Juddmonte’s Kentucky homebred Idiomatic grabbed the lead at the start of the 68th running of the $600,000 Spinster S. (G1) at Keeneland and never looked back, winning the prestigious race on Sunday, Oct. 8. The victory, her second straight in a Grade 1, earned Idiomatic a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Idiomatic dictated terms throughout in the 1 1/8-mile fixture. Allowed to set a comfortable pace unchallenged, Idiomatic responded gamely when set down for the drive in the upper stretch. She widened her advantage through the lane, ultimately scoring by 4 ¼ lengths in the end. She covered the distance in 1:49.82.
“This is a big win for this filly, it’s her second Grade 1,” said winning trainer Brad Cox. “She’s had a fantastic year. She’s a tremendous talent, very physical, really. When I was saddling her in the paddock, I was like, ‘Wow, she’s the biggest horse I’ve ever trained.’ She’s a monster. She has a tremendous stride and covers so much ground. She really is a tremendous talent, and we’re very fortunate to have her.”
Juddmonte, which has sponsored the Spinster since 2005, earned its second victory in the prestigious race, having won it in 2013 with Emollient. A winner in seven of her past eight races, Idiomatic is a 4-year-old daughter of Curlin out of the First Defence mare Lockdown. The $367,350 winner’s share of the purse increased her earnings total to $1,416,840. Idiomatic notched her first Grade 1 victory in her previous outing, winning the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.