Essential Quality Rallies to Win Breeders' Cup Juvenile

When the starting gate opened for the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) Nov. 6, 14 runners shook the Keeneland grandstand with the thunder of their collective stride and rode off toward the first turn and into a sunset worthy of a John Wayne Western. 

But it was only the opening credits. 

In a race that largely decides who will be the early favorite on next year's Triple Crown trail, 2-year-old Godolphin homebred Essential Quality stamped himself the "One to Watch" when he took a late-running trip down the center of the lane to win by three-quarters of a length. 

Guided by Luis Saez, Essential Quality broke slowly and bumped briefly with another runner, a collision that forced the colt to settle just off the pace in eighth. The early speed came in the form of Dreamer's Disease, who clicked off fast fractions of :22.58, :45.31, and 1:10.48 through the first six furlongs. 

"I was concerned," said trainer Brad Cox, who hoped Essential Quality would break closer to the lead. "I was a touch concerned going into the first turn—Luis had asked him to run out there. I thought the horses were faster in the early part of the race, and it kind of got away from him. He took some dirt going into the turn and up the backside." 

Up at the front of the field, Likeable, heavy favorite Jackie's Warrior, and Classier were second, third, and fourth as they stalked the pace behind Dreamer's Disease. Tipped out three wide by jockey Joel Rosario, Jackie's Warrior forged a path to the outside of the frontrunner exiting the backstretch and managed to eke out a half-length advantage coming off the final turn. By that point, Essential Quality had made his own four-wide advance toward the front, outside of Jackie's Warrior. He took aim at the leaders. 

"Once again, he was sitting out wide," Cox said. "I wasn't sure he was really carrying himself into the bridle. I think I saw :45 and change for the half-mile, and I could see Luis starting to pick up. When he picked up and picked off a couple of horses and once he straightened up … the horse has a tremendous amount of stamina." 

Longshot Hot Rod Charlie—a half brother to champion Mitole —commenced his own rally under jockey Tyler Gaffalione at the furlong pole and began to pose a serious threat to a waning Jackie's Warrior. But running just to Hot Rod Charlie's inside was Essential Quality, who switched leads and kicked home in the final strides. With Hot Rod Charlie hot on his tail, Essential Quality kept pushing to the wire and managed to hold off his rivals. The final time for the 1 1/16-mile dirt test was 1:42.09 on a fast track. 

"Luis said something like when he got to the three-eighths pole, 'I knew we were full of run,'" Godolphin's Jimmy Bell said. "But I said, 'Well, I wish you could have let us know that because going down the backside, I wasn't as confident as you were.'" 

But Saez knew what he had underneath him.

"I knew there was going to be a lot of speed, so we were in the right spot," he said. "At the three-eighths he gave me that kick so I knew we had a chance to win the race. He can run all day. He's a nice horse."

Hot Rod Charlie, who went off at odds of 94-1, held on for second, followed by Keepmeinmind in third. Jackie's Warrior faded to fourth, three lengths ahead of Rombauer in fifth. 

"It's so exciting to win any Breeders' Cup race, but when you have a 2-year-old colt that is a homebred … it's the cherry on top," Bell said. "I was just saying earlier how exciting that was; so much of the farm staff was able to come over and watch because this is in our own backyard. That's where the joy is: in celebrating with people who put so much time in behind the scenes of all this. It made it so special to have the team here, and it's a tribute to Sheikh Mohammed and his overall breeding plan.

"There is nothing more exciting than a 2-year-old that looks like he might get a little further going two turns."

With three victories from as many starts, it's clear that Kentucky-bred Essential Quality enjoys racing on his home turf. The son of Tapit  broke his maiden on debut going six furlongs Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs by four lengths before traveling to Keeneland next out to contest the Oct. 3 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1). 

He delivered another dominating performance, drawing off in deep stretch to win by 3 1/4 lengths and earning an automatic berth in the World Championships. It was the second consecutive win for a Godolphin homebred in the Futurity after Maxfield's score last year.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Maxfield’s connections had hoped that the colt, like Essential Quality, would use the Futurity victory as a springboard to success in the 2019 renewal of the Juvenile at Santa Anita Park. However, that would not be the case as the colt was scratched days before the race due to an unspecified issue with his right front leg. Although he returned to winning ways in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3), Maxfield also was withdrawn from consideration for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) after suffering a condylar fracture.

Now, with one sweeping move at the Breeders' Cup, Essential Quality has revived visions of roses for Godolphin while relieving some of the sting of last year's disappointments for the Godolphin team. The fourth foal out of the Elusive Quality mare Delightful Quality and her only winner from two to race, he pushed his earnings to $1,335,144. 

"I have to hand it to Brad and his team," Bell said. "In particular Brad, who said to me early on, 'I think he's going to love two turns.' Every time he works and runs, (Brad) tells me, 'Jimmy, this horse isn't breathing.' He just loves the distance. It's been a great day for everybody." 

"He's obviously the best Tapit colt we've ever had, and he's obviously been good since day one," Cox said. "He has an amazing amount of talent. He's an amazing animal. We ran him three-quarters knowing he was a two-turn horse, but he had shown us enough speed in the mornings to let us know that he would make a good account of himself going shorter. He did that, overcame some traffic troubles, and split horses. That gave us a lot of confidence." 

With the highest honor of the Breeders' Cup's "Future Stars Friday" in the bag, both Cox and Bell said it would be hard not to dream of the future and a trip to Churchill Downs with Essential Quality on the first Saturday in May. 

"It's the obvious thought or the dream, as you say, but the Godolphin team—first and foremost—puts the horse first," Cox said. "We will see how he comes out of the race and let the dust settle. We will map out a plan this winter, but I'm very excited for this horse and for next year with his 3-year-old campaign." 

"If you didn't dream, you probably wouldn't be in this business," Bell said. "A lot of this is based on dreams. For those lucky and fortunate enough to have lived the dream—which we have done—certainly you dream. Brad said all along that every indication was about distance in this colt. We've asked a lot of a very young, Baby Huey-type 2-year-old, and to see him progress from his first start … to see him grow mentally and physically and see him handle this kind of competition certainly makes you want to dream a little bit." 

Video: TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1)