Idiomatic is ‘rocking’ in morning gallop at Sararoga

Juddmonte’s Kentucky homebred champion Idiomatic turned in a robust gallop over Saratoga’s Oklahoma dirt training track Wednesday in preparation for the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps on Saturday at the Belmont Stakes racing festival.

Trained by two-time Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the 5-year-old Curlin mare went out to the track shortly after its 5:30 a.m. EDT opening and galloped strongly around the foggy oval. Blake Cox, son and assistant to Brad, said he was pleased with what he saw from last year’s champion older dirt female.

“It was impressive,” said Cox. “She kind of caught some company and was rocking around there pretty good. She was doing it in hand, and she’s very happy. She’s ready for Saturday. She trained up here all last summer and did well, and she likes the Oklahoma a lot.”

Idiomatic arrives from an impressive seasonal debut victory in Churchill Downs’s 1 1/16-mile La Troienne (G1) on May 3, where she defeated a field that included returning rival and fellow champion Pretty Mischievous, who finished third. Ridden by regular pilot Florent Geroux, Idiomatic stalked one length off the early pace set by Dorth Vader and pounced to the lead at the three-quarters call before widening her advantage throughout the latter stages and crossing the wire 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Free Like a Girl over the sloppy and sealed going.

Idiomatic rides a six-race win streak, all graded stakes, into the Ogden Phipps, including a win last year over the Spa’s main track in the Personal Ensign (G1) ahead of additional Grade 1 triumphs in Keeneland’s Spinster and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November at Santa Anita.

Cox said Idiomatic is showing the same good form as last year as she prepares for another showdown with reigning champion 3-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous.

“She is just the model of consistency, no doubt,” Cox said. “There’s not many like her, and she makes our jobs easier. You’re very confident in her every time you lead her over. Pretty Mischievous is a very good filly, and obviously we’ll see how we break, but we’re planning to break running and go from there.”

Idiomatic will exit post 5 in rein to Geroux with morning-line odds of 3-5, the favorite in the six-horse field.

Cox also will be represented in this weekend’s Belmont Stakes racing festival by Godolphin’s dual graded stakes-placed Nash in the Woody Stephens (G1) on Saturday, and 2-for-2 Almostgone Rocket in Thursday’s listed Jersey Girl.