Just as one of the champions in trainer Brad Cox’s barn nears a return to the races, the other is heading to the sidelines for a few months.
British Idiom, last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, has been diagnosed with a chip in her right front ankle after a disappointing effort in her most recent start and is likely to need at least 60 days before she can resume light training.
“We sent her to (Dr. Larry Bramlage at the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital) for a full evaluation, and they saw a flake in there,” said trainer Brad Cox, who added that the 3-year-old filly will likely target a fall campaign.
Owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and The Elkstone Group, British Idiom was 3-for-3 last year, capped by a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). But at 3, she has lost both of her starts. She opened 2020 with a runner-up finish in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes Presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2) and was 10th in the May 1 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
“I’m assuming that explains the last one,” Cox said. “She never was involved, really.”
The daughter of Flashback was purchased by X-Go Ranch for $40,000 from the Warrendale Sales consignment at The October Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s Kentucky fall yearling sale, in 2018. Through her three wins in five starts, British Idiom has earned $1,442,139.
Meanwhile, 2018 3-year-old filly champion Monomoy Girl moved another step closer to her first start since the 2018 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) with a sharp :59 2/5 five-furlong work May 9 at Keeneland, the third-fastest of 16 works at the distance.
“She had a fantastic work yesterday, and she looked amazing this morning,” Cox said Sunday. “We have our fingers crossed. She’s ready to go. She’s on top of her game as far as her training goes.”
Among the possibilities for the 5-year-old daughter of Tapizar‘s return from an 18 1/2-month layoff is the $100,000 Shawnee Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile test for fillies and mares that is scheduled for May 23 at Churchill Downs, or a May 16 allowance race.
Owned by Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables, Monomoy Girlhas won nine of 11 starts with two seconds and earnings of $2,954,750.
One of Cox’s other grade 1 winners who worked May 9 was Arklow, who breezed four furlongs on turf in :51 2/5 at Keeneland. Owned by Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, and Peter Coneway, the son of Arch is unraced since a fifth-place finish in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T) and is a candidate for the $100,000 Louisville Stakes (G3T) June 13 at Churchill Downs.
“He’s doing fantastic,” Cox said.
Also among the May 9 works, Juddmonte Farms’ 3-year-old filly Bonny South, the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner, breezed four furlongs in :49 1/5.
“She’s doing great,” Cox said, “but there’s no race out there for her now.”
– Article courtesy of the BloodHorse
