Round three in the rivalry between the top older mares Idiomatic and Randomized is set to take place Friday at Saratoga in the $500,000 Personal Ensign (G1) over nine furlongs.
Although Idiomatic is the older and more accomplished of the two, little has separated them since their first meeting on the track last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita. Idiomatic won her fifth race in a row in the Distaff, but only by a half-length over a stubborn Randomized, whose quest for the three-year-old filly title fell short after earlier wins in the Alabama (G1) and Beldame (G2).
Their second meeting, in the June 8 Ogden Phipps (G1) over the Personal Ensign track and distance, was even closer. Randomized again set the pace, but her physically larger rival couldn’t quite reel her in while falling short by a head.
Randomized has not raced since the Phipps, while Idiomatic turned what should have been a procession in the July 20 Molly Pitcher (G3) at Monmouth Park into a chore. Setting a very slow pace by her standards, Idiomatic was caught a bit flat-footed when headed by Soul of an Angel and was all out to regain a narrow advantage as a 1-10 favorite.
“From the three-eighths pole home, she had to dig in to fend off a really good filly,” trainer Brad Cox said of his reigning champion older mare who won last year’s Personal Ensign by four lengths. “She got something out of it.”
Randomized, who was upset by Soul of an Angel in the Ruffian (G2) two back, is joined in the Personal Ensign by stablemate Raging Sea. A non-threatening fourth in the Ogden Phipps, the daughter of Curlin book-ended that loss with victories in the Doubledogdare (G3) and Shuvee (G2) this season.
“This is a really tough race against proven, Grade 1-winning mares, so she’s going to have to step up and break through,” Brown said of Raging Sea. “But, she likes Saratoga and she’s coming off her career-best race, so there’s a chance she could do it.”
The field of five is completed by Xigera, who showed a lot of potential late last season winning the Mother Goose (G2) and Falls City (G3). However, she’s finished unplaced in two of her three starts this term.
The supporting feature on Friday is the $150,000 Smart N Fancy S., a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares. Last year’s winner, Roses for Debra, will look to rebound from a head loss in the Intercontinental (G2) to Future Is Now, who in turn recently missed by a half-length in the Caress (G3) to Dontlookbackatall, who enters the Smart N Fancy on a three-stakes win streak.
Both Roses for Debra and Dontlookbackatall are trained by Christophe Clement.
