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Eclipse Sportswire

Idiomatic, the reigning older dirt female champion, will not
race next Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar, and she has been retired after
being diagnosed with lameness, her breeder-owner Juddmonte announced Friday.

“Idiomatic was found to be lame this morning, and an issue
that should heal readily was identified in her left knee,” a Juddmonte news
release said. “Unfortunately, it will rule her out of running in the Breeders’
Cup, and it has been decided to retire her to stud.”

The absence of the 5-year-old mare who totaled nearly $4
million in race earnings scuttles a highly anticipated Distaff showdown between
her and Thorpedo Anna, who is certain to be named the champion 3-year-old filly
of 2024.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden for most of her career by
Florent Géroux, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Curlin out of First Defence mare
Lockdown most recently had a workout at Churchill Downs last Friday, when she went a half-mile in
49.8 seconds. It was her first timed breeze since she won by 6 1/2 lengths Oct.
6 in the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland. It was the fifth Grade 1 victory of a
career that also included such wins in the 2024 La Troienne and the 2023
runnings of the Personal Ensign, Spinster and Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“Idiomatic was a model of consistency who elevated herself
to Grade 1 level and stayed there for two exciting seasons,” the Juddmonte statement
said. “Her power, ability and honesty were exciting characteristics. This is
the first time she has been sidelined, which is a tribute to her soundness.”

Idiomatic broke her maiden in April 2022 in the first of her five starts on the Tapeta synthetic surface at Turfway Park, where she went 4-for-5. Her win in the 2023 Latonia signaled that she was ready for a switch to dirt and bigger stakes.

After a runner-up finish at Belmont Park in the Ruffian (G2), Idiomatic was paired with Géroux, and they were unbeatable the rest of the year. Wins came in the Shawnee (G3) and Delaware Handicap (G2) before the streak of Grade 1 successes that clinched an Eclipse Award.

Although she did not have as gaudy a record in 2024, Idiomatic came within two heads of being undefeated. After her La Troienne success, she narrowly lost to Randomized in the Ogden Phipps (G1). She bounced back for a head victory in the Molly Pitcher (G3) before Raging Sea won the photo in the 2024 Personal Ensign. That led to what ended up being her valedictory repeat in the Spinster.

Idiomatic finished her racing career with a record of 17: 12-3-2 and earnings of $3,944,190.