With one other 12 months coming to an finish, BloodHorse employees members had been requested to mirror on what that they had seen during the last 12 months and vote on the very best races of 2024.
The Prime 10 countdown began Dec. 20 with No. 10, the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T), adopted by No. 9, the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T). And now, this is No. 8: the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1), June 8 at Saratoga Race Course.
The way it performed out
In Hollywood, sequels to hit films normally fall flat in making an attempt to match the recognition of the unique. For each “Godfather II” there are 50 bombs like “Godfather III.”
The identical can generally be mentioned of rematches on the racetrack.
However not with the Ogden Phipps Stakes.Join BloodHorse Each day
Within the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), Idiomatic and Randomized turned in fairly a present, with Idiomatic prevailing by a half-length over her 3-year-old rival.
Seven months later, they met once more within the Ogden Phipps at Saratoga Race Course and turned in an much more thrilling duel.
As she did within the Distaff, Klaravich Stables’ Randomized set the tempo within the Phipps. However this time Juddmonte’s Idiomatic was unsettled on the break and located herself fourth after the opening quarter-mile.
Whereas Randomized cruised alongside on the lead, jockey Florent Geroux kicked Idiomatic into prime gear within the stretch and the 3-5 favourite slowly chewed away on the daughter of Nyquist  ‘s lead. It appeared for a couple of moments that Idiomatic’s momentum would carry her to victory, however Randomized and Joel Rosario dug down and the 6-1 shot fended off coach Brad Cox’s 2023 Eclipse Award winner to show the tables on her rival.
This time Randomized reached the wire first by a head for coach Chad Brown, avenging her loss within the Breeders’ Cup in thrilling vogue.
The sequel topped the unique because it added to Saratoga’s legacy for upsets and earned the Phipps the No. 8 spot among the many 10 greatest races of 2024.
Quotable
Sean Collins, BloodHorse assistant information editor:Â “The Ogden Phipps was one of the crucial thrilling races of the season, each from a visible and a storyline perspective. Two top-level skills dueling for the size of the stretch, each exhibiting tenacity in victory and defeat. Randomized turned for dwelling with the lead, attempting to avenge her defeat within the earlier fall’s Breeders’ Cup. Idiomatic tried to run her down and safe a fifth consecutive grade 1 win. They left every little thing that they had on the monitor, dazzling a packed Saratoga crowd as they roared to the end line. Randomized emerged by the smallest of margins for the signature victory of her profession up to now whereas Idiomatic, regardless of being defeated, proved her will to struggle. And who was behind them? A former champion (Fairly Mischievous, third), the winner of the Private Ensign Stakes (Raging Sea, fourth), and a future Breeders’ Cup winner (Soul of an Angel, fifth). As a fan within the crowd or watching on TV, you may’t ask for rather more.”
Impression
Neither Randomized nor Idiomatic returned to the Breeders’ Cup, although with two wins and two seconds in grade 1 firm Idiomatic will in all probability be named the champion older dust feminine for a second straight 12 months.
Notable
With the Ogden Phipps contested at Saratoga because of development at Belmont Park, the race was contested on the similar two-turn, 1 1/8-mile distance because the Distaff … It was Brown’s first victory within the Phipps.
