Idiomatic Eyes New Win Streak in Molly Pitcher Stakes

Juddmonte's multimillionaire homebred Idiomatic  returns July 20 in the $500,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park wanting to start a new winning streak.

The daughter of Curlin   had a six-race win streak snapped June 8 in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course when she lost by a head at the wire after just failing to catch front-running Randomized . Prior to the Ogden Phipps, she had won nine of her previous 10 starts and has never finished worse than third.

"I thought it was a very good effort with not the greatest trip, but I can't fault the rider at all. It was the circumstances she was put in. Todd's horse (Tizzy in the Sky) broke incredibly sharp, took us a little wide around the first turn. They're in the race to win it, they sat a good trip. It put us in a little bit of a wide spot. I always found on the dirt, when you're getting a wide trip and there's not a lot of pace on, you don't seem to kick on as well as you'd like to see," said trainer Brad Cox.

Cox said that the $300,000 winner's share in addition to giving the mare a race between the Ogden Phipps and the Aug. 23 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1), which Idiomatic won a year ago by four lengths, was an "attractive" reason for running Saturday.

Idiomatic's inescapable presence influenced the field of the race. Shotgun Hottie , who won last year's edition of the Molly Pitcher and has been rounding into top form, will not return to defend her title. Trainer Cherie DeVaux has instead opted for the July 21 Shuvee Stakes (G2) at Saratoga rather than challenge the 2023 champion older dirt female.

"(The Shuvee) is a grade 2. You've also got Idiomatic going there, who is the division leader right now, so we will come here instead," DeVaux said. 

Even without the allure of an Idiomatic-Shotgun Hottie clash, the field still provides an opportunity to see how the other mares measure up to a likely future hall of famer. 

One of the challengers is Kathleen O. , who has not been able to match the success of her first two years on the track. After starting her career with four wins and a 4-1-0 mark from six starts, the Upstart   mare has gone 1-2-0 in her next six starts. She did, however, win her most recent start, the Serena's Song Stakes at Monmouth May 12, notching her first victory since April 2022.

Rounding out the field are Frosty O Toole, Just Katherine , Miles of Smiles , and Soul of an Angel .

Resolute Racing's Misty Veil  is also entered but will run in the Shuvee instead, trainer Mike Maker told New York Racing Association publicity.

Sean Collins contributed to this story.