On May 3, Idiomatic, the winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), won her 2024 debut, taking the La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs.
A day later, the results were not as kind for the Distaff runner-up.
After leading from the start, Klaravich Stables' Randomized weakened in the final furlong and wound up second by 4 3/4 lengths to 24-1 shot Soul of an Angel in the $200,000 Ruffian Stakes (G2) May 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
"She was probably a little tired at the end. She gave me the left lead down the lane and was getting tired. She ran a decent race," said jockey Manny Franco after the Chad Brown-trained 2023 Alabama Stakes (G1) winner ran for the first time since her half-length loss in the Nov. 4 Distaff.
The Ruffian marked the first graded stakes win for C Two Racing Stable and Agave Racing Stable's Soul of an Angel. Now trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., the 5-year-old daughter of Atreides was sixth in the March 9 Azeri Stakes (G2) in her previous start for trainer Gerald James.
"She was on her toes and really feeling herself all week," said assistant trainer Electra Boone.
Soul of an Angel ($51), bred by Westbrook Stables in Kentucky out of The Factor mare Factor One, covered the mile in 1:35.40 under Trevor McCarthy. She is the first graded stakes winner for her sire, Atreides, who stands at River Oaks Farm in Sulphur, Okla., and is the second-leading sire in the state through May 3.
Video: Ruffian S. (G2)
Master Piece takes Fort Marcy
Kentucky Derby (G1) day is apparently trainer Rick Dutrow's lucky day.
A year ago, he returned from a 10-year suspension on Derby day and won with his very first starter.
On Derby day 2024, Dutrow won two races at the Big A, capped by Master Piece's dramatic victory by a neck over favored Ottoman Fleet in the $194,000 Fort Marcy Stakes (G2T).
Owned by Michael and Julia Iavarone, Nicholas Zoumas, and Frank Argano, Master Piece ($7) was coming off a third in an April 6 allowance race at Keeneland. He closed out 2023 with a win in the Red Smith Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct.
Godolphin's Ottoman Fleet came up short at 1-2 odds in his bid for a second straight Fort Marcy win. The 1-2 favorite made a strong wide move on the turn and seemed ready to roll past Master Piece, but veered out in the stretch, losing his momentum, and settled for second.
Master Piece, an 8-year-old son of Mastercraftsman bred in Chile by Haras Don Alberto, was ridden by Dylan Davis and covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.68.
