Essential Quality Shines in Breeders' Futurity

For the second year in a row, a Godolphin homebred posted an impressive victory in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, and this year's winner, Essential Quality, will have the luxury of contesting the Nov. 6 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) on the same Lexington track.

Starting at the top level in just the second start of his career proved no problem for Essential Quality, who delivered a dominant performance in the $400,000 Breeders' Futurity Oct. 3. The son of Tapit  tracked Upstriker early, put that one away coming out of the far turn, and drew off in the stretch to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

The Breeders' Futurity is a Breeders' Cup Challenge race, earning Essential Quality a "Win and You're In" spot in the Juvenile.

A year ago, Godolphin's Maxfield won the Breeders' Futurity, but an issue with his right front leg kept him from competing in the Juvenile at Santa Anita Park. The powerful international operation of Sheikh Mohammed appears poised for another try at the Juvenile, a race it won in 2009 with Vale of York.

Winning trainer Brad Cox, who sent out last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner and champion 2-year-old filly British Idiom, now welcomes a top male youngster.

"We've had some very nice 2-year-old fillies, but this is probably the best (2-year-old colt) I've had as far as talent goes. He's our first grade 1 winner as a 2-year-old colt," Cox said. "He means a lot to us. He showed us from day one that he's special; very talented."

Essential Quality made his debut less than a month ago, rolling to a four-length score in a six-furlong maiden special weight race Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs—the Kentucky Derby Day undercard. Stretching out to 1 1/16 miles Saturday proved to his liking.

With Luis Saez up, Essential Quality tracked a half-length behind Upstriker—a five-length maiden debut winner Aug. 30 at Ellis Park—through a quarter mile in :23.97. Essential Quality increased the pressure and gained a slight advantage through a half-mile in :48.86. Those two battled to within a half-length of one another through the far turn, opening a two-length lead on the other seven runners.

Turning for home, Essential Quality quickly kicked away from Upstriker, a move that essentially won the race as he cruised home ahead of the late-rallying longshot Keepmeinmind. Super Stock finished third, passing the tiring Upstriker, who held fourth.

Essential Quality completed the distance for 2-year-olds in 1:44.37 on a fast track.

"I was watching the replay when he ran last time, and he looked like, 'Wow, what a horse.' And today he proved that he's a very good horse," Saez said. "He did it pretty easy. He was a little green when he came to the track. He was looking around a little bit, but he took off; he was running. What a horse. I'm so glad I'm on this horse."

Cox noted that Saez found Essential Quality's comfort zone.

"Luis did a good job of getting him to relax. He's a very green horse. That was my concern today—could he put it all together? And he did," Cox said. "He pulled up a bit on the backside. He's got some learning to do. If he can figure it out, he's a serious animal."

Southern Equine Stable's Keepmeinmind, who rallied from seventh at 52-1 odds, entered off a runner-up finish in a one-mile off-the-turf maiden race Sept. 2 at Churchill. The son of Laoban  is trained by Robertino Diodoro.

"We had a little bit of trouble in the first turn with horses on the outside coming in, but I was happy I was able to maintain somewhat of a position," said Keepmeinmind's jockey, David Cohen. "Down the backside, he got into a beautiful spot. He's still a bit green. I was very happy with his courage and his finish. His gallop out was tremendous."

Kentucky-bred Essential Quality is the first winner from two starters out of the graded-placed Elusive Quality mare Delightful Quality. Delightful Quality is a half sister to champion 2-year-old filly Folklore.

Video: Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1)