Essential Quality Aimed at Breeders' Cup Classic

After capturing the Aug. 28 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, Godolphin homebred Essential Quality 's ultimate goal is the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar, according to trainer Brad Cox. The 2020 Eclipse Award winner for outstanding trainer said he has not yet decided whether Essential Quality will race once beforehand. 

"He looked great this morning. He's in good shape," Cox said Aug. 29. "(Godolphin USA president) Jimmy Bell and I spoke about that this morning, there's no pressure to make a decision right now. We'll just let the dust settle and enjoy this victory for a little bit. I think that's the right thing to do. We'll make a decision in a week or two weeks. The most important thing is watching him and how he trains."

Essential Quality became the first champion 2-year-old to notch a Travers win since Street Sense   in 2007 and joined Tiz the Law   (2020), Summer Bird (2009), Birdstone  (2004), Point Given  (2001), Lemon Drop Kid   (1999), and Thunder Gulch (1995) as horses to sweep the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and Travers. Additionally, he became the first horse since Arts and Letters in 1969 to win the Belmont, Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), and Travers. 

Cox spoke volumes of this year's 3-year-old crop and said it's a testament to Essential Quality's accomplishments.

"It's very, very good, and that's not just because we have two very good ones in Essential Quality and (grade 1 TVG Haskell Stakes winner) Mandaloun ," Cox said. "Horses like Hot Rod Charlie , Midnight Bourbon , Jackie's Warrior , and Keepmeinmind  were all good horses that played a role as 2-year-olds last year and have been able to continue on at 3. Jackie's Warrior and Essential Quality were both dual grade 1 winners at 2 and 3. It means a lot. Hopefully, we can keep marching forward and on to the Breeders' Cup."

Cox potentially holds a strong hand for the Breeders' Cup Classic with Essential Quality and Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go , who breezed for the first time since his Whitney Stakes (G1) triumph on Friday morning. The 5-year-old son of Paynter   went an easy half-mile in :49.15 on the Oklahoma Training Track.

Knicks Go will target the Oct. 2 Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs as his final prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic. 

"It was an incredible move and I was proud of him," Cox said. "I didn't ask him to do much, but he did it the right way. We'll keep him here until the first of September and go from there."

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon , who finished second a neck behind Essential Quality after setting the pace in the Travers, turned in a determined effort after clipping heels and losing his rider in the July 17 Haskell Stakes.

"It was by far the best race of his career," said Scott Blasi, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. "We were a little bit unlucky to lose but that horse (Essential Quality) is a champion. Once that horse gets by you, he's not going to let anybody pass him, and he proved that time and time again. Hats off to the winner, but our horse is definitely improving. I think with the time that they ran (1 1/4 miles in 2:01.96) and how they came home in the last quarter (:23.15), you have to have quality to be able to do that."

The effort is particularly gratifying considering Midnight Bourbon's last race, when he was a close third in the Monmouth Park stretch but then clipped heels with Hot Rod Charlie and stumbled. Hot Rod Charlie was disqualified from the win and placed last, and runner-up Mandaloun was placed first.

"I've got to give the credit to our team here. Everybody worked so hard on that horse after coming out of the Monmouth race. The whole barn did a great job getting him to come back around," Blasi said. "He was able to spend time in the round pen and we let him just be a horse up here in Saratoga, which is the great thing about Saratoga. You've got the environment. It's all good.

"I'm proud of how he acted going over to the paddock. We led the pony in front of him, which I think that made a big difference. He was a total professional yesterday. We really are happy with how he's progressing." 

Peter Brant and Robert LaPenta's Travers third Miles D  finished third five lengths back from Midnight Bourbon in the Travers, which was only his fourth career start. 

Trainer Chad Brown said he was pleased with the effort.

"He's only run four times and he might be a little bit better at a mile and an eighth," Brown said.

Trainer Robertino Diodoro felt the Travers pace went against Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith, and Spendthrift Farm's Keepmeinmind, who finished fourth.

"Nothing really went our way from the break. It was a very slow pace and we got trapped and never really got a clear run until it was way too late," Diodoro said. "He ate dirt for a long ways and when things did open up at the top of the lane, you couldn't expect him to sprint home against those two horses after they went :24, :49, and 1:14. There was no pace to run at, at all.

"I think that's why Essential Quality had such a tough time getting by Midnight Bourbon down the lane; he walked everyone to sleep. I thought we had him ready to go, but you need racing luck. He cooled out good last night. We'll let the horse tell us how he is and come up with a plan."