Essential Quality Breezes at Saratoga for Jim Dandy
Image:
Description:
Photo: Skip Dickstein
Essential Quality breezes July 17 at Saratoga Race Course
Godolphin homebred Essential Quality , last-out winner of the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), breezed five furlongs in 1:01.81 on the Saratoga Race Course main track July 17 in preparation for the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), a nine-furlong test for sophomores on July 31.
Trained by Brad Cox, the reigning champion 2-year-old male, with regular rider Luis Saez up, worked from the half in company with 3-year-old New York-bred maiden winner Bingo John , who was piloted by Manny Franco.
NYRA clockers caught Essential Quality in splits of :25, :48 3/5, 1:01 4/5, 1:14 2/5, and 1:28 3/5.
"It was a solid move," said Cox, the Eclipse Award-winning trainer of 2020. "It looked like he stayed on well. We wanted to let him get a little blow out of this. He had a nice gallop out."
The Tapit colt will look to become only the 11th horse to win the Jim Dandy-Travers double, with the $1.25 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 28 being another Saratoga goal.
Cox said Essential Quality is thriving at Saratoga where he has posted two works over the main track, including a half-mile in :50.44 last week.
"We have another work to come, but so far I'm happy with how everything is going," said Cox. "From what we saw this morning, he's doing very well."
Malathaat, Maracuja Breeze for CCA Oaks
Shadwell Stable's Malathaat worked a half-mile in :48.05 on the Saratoga main track in company with last-out Mother Goose Stakes (G2) winner Zaajel Saturday in preparation for the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), a 1 1/8-mile test for sophomore fillies on July 24.
Malathaat (outside) breezes in company with Zaajel July 17 at Saratoga Race Course
With Hall of Famer John Velazquez up for the 8:45 a.m ET breeze, the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Malathaat worked outside of her Shadwell stablemate, maneuvering around a pair of workers at the top of the stretch and finishing up strong.
NYRA clockers caught Malathaat out five-eighths in 1:02 3/5.
"She finished up excellent," said Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. "The work was very good, it was just unfortunate they got caught up with a couple horses but it worked out fine in the end."
Malathaat, by Curlin and out of grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia , is undefeated in five starts.
At 5:45 a.m. on the Saratoga main track, trainer Rob Atras sent out Gazelle Stakes (G3) runner-up Maracuja to breeze a half-mile in :49.98 in company with unraced 2-year-old Silipo.
The Beach Haven Thoroughbreds-owned daughter of Honor Code was expected to start in the June 26 Mother Goose before spiking a temperature.
Ricardo Santana Jr. will pick up the mount from regular pilot Kendrick Carmouche, who continues to recover from a broken ankle.
Atras said he is hopeful the late-closing Maracuja will be a little closer to the pace after rallying up the rail to finish seventh last out in the Kentucky Oaks.