British Idiom and Storm the Court Named Eclipse Champions

Fasig-Tipton sales graduates swept the two-year-old Eclipse Award championship categories, announced in a ceremony January 23 at Gulfstream Park.

british idiom storm the court breeders cup eclipse award
British Idiom (L) and Storm the Court (R) at the 2019 Breeders' Cup World Championships. Photo used with permission of photographer.

British Idiom, Eclipse Award Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, found the winner's circle in every effort of her juvenile season.

A two-year-old daughter of Flashback, British Idiom first went to the post August 15 at the prestigious Saratoga meet, where she broke her maiden by 3 1/2 lengths going 6 furlongs on the dirt. From New York, British Idiom traveled to Kentucky to contest the Darley Alcibiades S. (G1) at Keeneland on October 4. There, she took the lead in the stretch and drew off to win by a commanding 6 1/2 lengths over Spinaway S. (G1) winner Perfect Alibi.

British Idiom's travels then took her to California, where she contested the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on November 1. At Santa Anita, British Idiom raced mid-pack before striking the lead inside the final furlong and digging in to prevail over favored Donna Veloce and Grade 1 winners Bast, Perfect Alibi, and Wicked Whisper.

A perfect three-for-three in 2019, British Idiom earned $1,381,250 for owners Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group (Stuart Grant), Madaket Stables LLC, & Bethlehem Stables LLC and trainer Brad Cox. She was selected by Liz Crow at the 2018 Kentucky October Yearlings sale, where she was purchased for $40,000 by X-Go Ranch from the consignment of Warrendale Sales. British Idiom was bred in Kentucky by Hargus Sexton, Sandra Sexton, and Silver Fern Farm LLC.

Storm the Court, Eclipse Award Champion Two-Year-Old Male, stormed his way to the lead in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and never looked back.

A two-year-old son of Court Vision, Storm the Court broke his maiden at first asking, winning a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar on August 10. Unlucky in his second start, the Del Mar Futurity (G1) on September 2, where he lost jockey Flavien Prat after being bumped hard shortly after the break, Storm the Court reunited with Prat and rebounded to finish third in the American Pharoah S. (G1) at Santa Anita on September 27.

Third time proved the charm for Storm the Court on November 1, when his third attempt at a Grade 1 paid off at the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita. After setting the pace from the jump in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Storm the Court ran gamely to the finish, prevailing by a head to capture his cohort's most prestigious race.

Storm the Court won two of four starts in 2019 and earned $1,172,951 for owners Exline-Border Racing LLC, David A. Bernsen, Susanna Wilson, & Dan Hudock and trainer Peter Eurton. Bryan Rice purchased Storm the Court for $5,000 at the 2018 Kentucky Winter Mixed sale, where he was consigned by breeder Stepping Stone Farm.