Idiomatic, Randomized to Meet Again in Personal Ensign

A rematch that deserves center stage will receive just that when champion Idiomatic  faces two-time grade 1 winner Randomized  in the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course.

One day before a loaded edition of the Travers Stakes (G1) tops a Saratoga card filled with five grade 1 races, the Personal Ensign will be the featured race on Friday's 12-race card. The 1 1/8-mile test for older fillies and mares has drawn five entries and all focus will begin with Juddmonte's 5-year-old mare Idiomatic and Klaravich Stables' 4-year-old filly Randomized.

In their previous meeting Randomized resolutely prevailed after a battle through the Saratoga stretch to register a head victory in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 8. That outcome, in which Randomized found more in the final furlong to prevail, snapped a six-race win streak for Idiomatic.

With her front-running score in the Ogden Phipps, Randomized nailed down a third straight victory at Saratoga. The daughter of Nyquist   previously secured her initial grade 1 win at the Spa, taking last year's Alabama Stakes (G1).

"She's not a very big horse, but she's fast and she likes to go to the lead and carry her speed," said trainer Chad Brown. "The Alabama is a really special race to win, and she's come back and carried her form into age 4 winning the Phipps. A really special horse for us, and she's got a lot of heart."

Friday will mark the third time Randomized has faced Idiomatic, who closed out 2023 with a half-length victory over Randomized in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita Park. While Randomized has not raced since the Ogden Phipps, trainer Brad Cox sent Idiomatic to Monmouth Park where last year's champion dirt female picked up a narrow victory over Soul of an Angel  in the Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3).

"From the three-eighths pole home, she had to dig in to fend off a really good filly," Cox said of that July 20 test. "She got something out of it."

Idiomatic and Randomized will meet at the 1 1/8-mile distance again and, like the Ogden Phipps, they'll each carry 124 pounds. Last year Idiomatic landed the first grade 1 victory of her career in the Personal Ensign, drawing off to a four-length win after enjoying a clear lead at every call.

"She's very talented," Cox said. "She's able to get into a race and use her big stride and set a solid enough pace to run them off their feet going into the far turn. She doesn't necessarily have to be on the lead. She tracked Randomized in the Breeders' Cup last year; we'll see if we can get a good trip on Friday."

Idiomatic will start from post 4 under regular rider Florent Geroux while Randomized will start from the outside post with Joel Rosario up. Rosario was aboard for the Ogden Phipps win and the duo is perfect in three starts together.

C Two Racing Stable and Agave Racing Stable's Soul of an Angel also enters off the Molly Pitcher. Brown also will send out recent Shuvee Stakes (G2) winner Raging Sea . Grade 2 winner Xigera  will start from the inside for trainer Phil Bauer.