British Idiom, confidently ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, cruised to a 6 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes on Friday’s opening-day program of the fall race meet at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. Trained by Brad Cox and owned by Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group LLC (Stuart Grant) , Madaket Stables LLC and Bethlehem Stables LLC, the 2-year-old filly by Flashpoint covered 1 1/16 miles on a fast Keeneland main track in 1:45.80 and paid $9.20 to win as the third choice in the wagering.
Second-choice Perfect Alibi, winner of Saratoga’s G1 Spinaway Stakes in her last out, finished second, with 2-1 favorite Alandra, an impressive Saratoga maiden winner, finishing third in the field of 11 2-year-old fillies.
The victory gives British Idiom an all fees paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita next month, and trainer Cox indicated the filly’s connections would take advantage of the Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series benefits and send her west.
“She’s a real laid-back filly,” said Cox. “She’s a really nice filly that’s full of class. She never gets worked up. She does whatever you want in the mornings. She’s a good-sized filly, too, and obviously capable of getting around two turns. As long as she comes out of this in good shape, we’ll look at California.”
Longshot Spitefulness set the pace under jockey Tyler Baze and wearing blinkers for the first time, setting fractions of :23.73, :47.27 and 1:13.11 for the opening six furlongs. Sequin came up to challenge on the turn but was quickly engaged by British Idiom, who had been racing in third position much of the way. British Idiom took command at the top of the stretch and drew off for the victory after a mile clocking in 1:39.27.
