Idiomatic battled for the win in the 2023 BC Distaff. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
By Maribeth Kalinich
2023 Breeders’ Cup Distaff queen Idiomatic, has been retired from the track to the shed as a broodmare.
Juddmonte’s champion 5-year-old mare trained by Brad Cox won 12 of her 17 starts with three seconds and two thirds earning near $4 million. Her victories included six straight graded stakes with four of those being Grade 1.
Idiomatic’s last victory was Oct. 6 at Keeneland in the Grade 1, Juddmonte Spinster where she won handily by 6-1/2 length awarded a career high Equibase Speed Figure (ESF) of 111.
Under Florent Geroux, Idiomatic battled Randomized and Le Da Vida (CHI) to the wire in a near three-way photo where the top three were separated by a half-length and a nose to win the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
In a statement on their website Juddmonte said:
“IDIOMATIC was found to be lame this morning and an issue, that should heal readily, was identified in her left knee. Unfortunately, it will rule her out of running in the Breeders’ Cup and it has been decided to retire her to stud.
“Idiomatic was a model of consistency who elevated herself to Grade One level and stayed there for two exciting campaigns. Her power, ability and honesty were exciting characteristics. This is the first time she has been sidelined which is a tribute to her soundness.”
The daughter of Curlin out of Lockdown by First Defense was pre-entered in the upcoming BC Distaff as fans looked forward to a challenge from Kentucky Oaks queen Thorpedo Anna.
The bay mare’s dam, Lockdown, a Juddmonte homebred, also ran her last race in the 2017 Juddmonte Spinster finishing fourth. Lockdown won the Busanda at Aqueduct and then placed in four graded stakes. She finished with a record of nine starts with two wins, three seconds and two third places earning just under half a million for trainer Bill Mott.
Lockdown’s damsire is Storm Cat.
Idiomatic comes from a long line of Reines de Course on top and bottom with the damsire of Curlin being Classy ’n Smart (CAN) whose dam was also a Reines de Course in No Class (CAN).
Also in that generation was Gold Digger, Toussaud, and Terlingua, dam of Storm Cat.
In Idiomatic’s fifth generation are 10 Reines de Course: Raise You, Smartaire, Classy Quillo (CAN), Sunday Purchase, Lucky Spell, My Charmer, South Ocean, Crimson Saint, Zaizafon and Best In Show.
Idiomatic’s sire, Curlin, was third in the 2007 Kentucky Derby before winning the Preakness and finishing second in the Belmont Stakes. He then went on to win five graded stakes in a row including the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Curlin was a two-time Jockey Club Gold Cup winner with his second victory earning a career high ESF of 122.
The Steve Asmussen trainee closed his career in the 2008 Classic where he took the lead on the stretch but weakened to a fourth place finish.
