The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Essential Quality wins Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Initially out of the picture, Essential Quality regrouped for a signature win that may set him up for a big 2021.
Essential Quality took charge in the stretch to overtake 94-1 long shot Hot Rod Charlie and win Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by threequarters of a length on the first day of the seasonending world championships at Keeneland.
Hot Rod Charlie and 4-5 favorite Jackie’s Warrior dueled through the final turn before Essential Quality, initially off the pace after an early bump, recovered and emerged from a four-wide pack. The colt held on at the wire as Keepmeinmind, a 30-1 long shot, made a late charge. Essential Quality improved to 3-0 and established himself as a possible contender in
next year’s Kentucky Derby.
Jockey Luis Saez earned his first Breeders’ Cup win and was grateful for his mount.
“To be here and to have it with this horse, it’s very special,” he said. “First time that I ride him, I knew he was going to be a super horse.”
Essential Quality, who won the Grade 1 Breeders Futurity at Keeneland last
month, could be in the discussion as top 2-year-old colt. Trainer Brad Cox, a Louisville native, wasn’t ready to look ahead to next May but didn’t dismiss the thought, either.
“Well, sure. It’s the obviously thought or dream, I guess you would say,” said Cox, who also won the preceding Juvenile Fillies Turf with Aunt Pearl.
“Let the dust settle, see how he comes out of the race. We’ll map out a plan this winter. But, very excited about this horse next year, his 3-year-old campaign.”
Essential Quality covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.09 and paid $9.40, $6.20 and $4.40.
Hot Rod Charlie returned $51.60 and $24 while Keepmeinmind paid $11.20 to show. Jackie’s Warrior faded to fourth.
Two races earlier, Vequist made her case as a Kentucky Oaks contender with a twolength victory in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies.
With Joel Rosario aboard, the daughter of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner and 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champ Nyquist surged past pacesetting Dayoutoftheoffice in the stretch and rode the rail to her second win. It marked the third consecutive year a horse from the Parx racetrack/casino outside Philadelphia won a Breeders’ Cup race.