These 3 horses bring strong momentum to Breeders' Cup

Over the past month, the tides shifted in some Breeders’ Cup divisions thanks to key wins from rising players who gained momentum and losses by former standouts stuck on a downswing in their form.

Who has been specifically on the march to the Breeders’ Cup? Three horses deserve recognition for moving up unexpectedly in their ranks.  

Idiomatic

Division: Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Over time, Idiomatic has become a major player in the Distaff division after starting off the campaign modestly by winning a couple of optional claimers and a non-graded stakes race at Turfway Park in the first half of the year.

After a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes in May, Idiomatic turned into a win machine by capturing the Shawnee Stakes (G3), Delaware Handicap (G2), Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) and recently the Spinster Stakes (G1) to cap off an impressive stretch of wins from June to October.

When Idiomatic won the Personal Ensign, she defeated big names to join the top mix of the Distaff division. Secret Oath and Nest finished second and third in that race, and Clairiere turned in a clunker with a disappointing fifth-place finish over the sloppy racetrack.

Idiomatic's ability to repel Nest’s bid and keep Secret Oath at bay was notable. She defeated Nest again in the Spinster, although by that point it was clear Nest was not the same and seemed disinterested. 

In three of those four wins, Idiomatic set the pace. But in the Delaware Handicap, she had to use stalking tactics because of an early stumble. With other pacesetters such as Adare Manor and Randomized heading to the Distaff, Idiomatic might need to switch tactics to keep the streak. 

Nevertheless, Idiomatic carries plenty of momentum after those last two Grade 1 wins, and sometimes that new confidence can go a long way. 

Gina Romantica

Division: Breeders’ Cup Mile or Filly & Mare Turf

Gina Romantica’s season began with a mild fourth-place finish in the Eatontown Stakes (G3) at Monmouth. At that point, she felt like just another turf horse in the Chad Brown barn even though she won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) the previous year at Keeneland. 

But after the Eatontown race, Gina Romantica started to gain momentum. She gave an improved effort and ran second to Fev Rover in the Beverly D. Stakes (G1) at Colonial Downs. She even tried to make a serious move for the lead on the turn, but Fev Rover closed the rail and made Gina Romantica settle for second.

More recently, Gina Romantica mowed down her stablemate In Italian in the First Lady Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. The impressive part about the win is that In Italian held an uncontested lead throughout the early stages, and good speed horses such as In Italian tend to convert that type of loose early trip into a win. Yet Gina Romantica kept coming and won her second Grade 1 overall and her first against older runners.

Gina Romantic now brings momentum to whichever Breeders’ Cup race Brown chooses for this older filly, where it is the Mile or Filly & Mare Turf.

Fev Rover

Division: Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Despite decent European form, Fev Rover came across as a Grade 2 or weak Grade 1 type of older filly when she made the transfer to North America. After winning the Canadian Stakes (G2) at Woodbine last year, she crossed the wire a decent fourth in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1).

But this year, Fev Rover has key wins that moved her up in this division. Those wins came after a good effort against top horses at Saratoga.

In July, Fev Rover ran an improved third in the Diana Stakes (G1) behind the Chad Brown-trained power duo of Whitebeam and In Italian.

Fev Rover's effort in the Diana seemed to propel her forward. After the Diana, Fev Rover won the Beverly D. at Colonial Downs by 3 1/2 lengths over Gina Romantica in second.

As noted above, Gina Romantica went on to capture the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland over In Italian, which means Fev Rover beat a Brown-trained runner on the rise in the Beverly D.

Fev Rover faded to fourth behind the winner Moira in her defense of the Canadian Stakes. But after that losing effort, where she likely was compromised by the pace, Fev Rover won E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) by a clear 2 1/4 lengths over With the Moonlight in second and Moira in third this time to gain another stakes win and turn the tables on Moira. 

With the Beverly D. and E.P. Taylor, Fev Rover now has two Grade 1 wins in this division and carries plenty of momentum heading into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita. But shhe will need to face likely stiff competition from Europe.