Bargain Buy British Idiom Wins BC Juvenile Fillies
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
British Idiom and connections in Santa Anita Park's winner's circle after the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
A $40,000 filly with an unflappable nature and remarkable talent won the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park.
British Idiom—a 2-year-old daughter of Flashback trained by Brad Cox—laid it all on the line in a thrilling stretch duel with 2-1 favorite Donna Veloce and emerged victorious by a neck in the shadow of the wire.
It was her quiet presence and composure that first drew bloodstock agent Liz Crow of BSW Bloodstock to British Idiom at The October Sale, Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky yearling sale, where she was shopping for partners Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables, and Bethlehem Stables.
"Mentality—that was what really sold me on her," Crow said. "Every time I saw her at the barn, she was just so chill, so relaxed, and very professional. I like to watch them in the back ring before they go in to sell, and she couldn't have been any more blasé about the whole thing. I think that helps them a lot when they have to be in a paddock, when they have to ship to a place like this—when they have that mental fortitude, it really helps. She just has an unbelievable attitude about everything."
Now 3-for-3 and coming off another top-level score in the Oct. 4 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, the chestnut filly rated just off the pace for much of the 1 1/16-mile test under Javier Castellano.
Longshot Two Sixty showed the way through opening fractions of :22.71 and :46.02 but relinquished command soon after to Bast, who went three-quarters in 1:11.93. A hard-driving Donna Veloce took the lead off the turn for home, but British Idiom had the new leader in her sights and swung wide to lay down a determined challenge through a 1:39.65 mile. The final time was 1:47.07 on a track rated fast.
British Idiom returned $7.40 on a $2 win ticket. Donna Veloce held for second, followed by Bast in third.
"She had to fight to get by (Donna Veloce)," Cox said of the finish. "I'm very proud of her. She's 3-for-3, she's done nothing wrong, and she's taken her show on the road every time. She's a tremendous filly."
It was the second Breeders' Cup win for the trainer, who took the 2018 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) with Monomoy Girl. British Idiom's similarities to the champion 3-year-old filly of 2018 were also what drew both Cox and Crow to the daughter of Flashback.
"She's got a very good mind and knows when to turn it on and off," Cox said. "Monomoy Girl is just like that."
Bred in Kentucky by Hargus Sexton, Sandra Sexton, and Silver Fern Farm out of the Mr. Sekiguchi mare Rose and Shine, British Idiom improved her earnings to $1,381,250. Her sire stood the 2019 season at Diamond B Farm in Mohrsville, Pa., where his advertised fee was $3,500.