Essential Quality has big resume
Horse racing could be in line for another Triple Crown bid and this time the likely candidate is an undefeated horse from a barn other than Bob Baffert’s.
Baffert, of course, is the sport’s dominant trainer who guided American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018 to sweeps of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.
Essential Quality, above, brings the most impressive resume into the 1 ¼-mile Derby on Saturday. No surprise, then, that he’s the early 2-1 favorite in a full field of 20 horses. Even Baffert agrees.
“To me, it’s Essential Quality’s race,” said the six-time Derby winner, who will attempt to win a record-breaking seventh with a rare long shot, 15-1 Medina Spirit.
That’s the case, in part, because Baffert’s top two candidates — Life Is Good and Concert Tour — were derailed by injury and a dull effort in a final prep, respectively.
Essential Quality certainly has all the credentials most observers would want in a Triple Crown contender.
The gray colt comes into the Derby undefeated in five career races over four different tracks. He was last year’s 2-year-old champion and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He showed toughness in his final prep in the Blue Grass Stakes, winning by a neck over Derby foe Highly Motivated.
“He’s a solid, solid horse, hasn’t missed a beat,” trainer Brad Cox said. “He’s a very classy horse. He knows when to turn it on and off.”
Jockey Luis Saez agreed, saying, “I know at the top of the stretch he’s always going to give me that kick.”
Essential Quality breaks from post 14, which has produced just two Derby winners.
The colt has proven adaptable in his races. He can sit off a fast pace and make a charge. If the pace is moderate, he can run closer and finish strongly.
“With his tactical speed, he hopefully would get a good trip and sit pretty close, and if he fires his best shot, I think that’s good enough,” said Larry Collmus, who announces the Derby for NBC.
Saez adds, “He always wants to win. He knows where the wire is.”
Cox is making his Derby debut at 41, trying to become the first Louisville-born trainer to win the race. He grew up blocks away from the Churchill Downs stable gate.