With five entrants in the Breeders’ Cup championships this year, TAPIT found his sixth lifetime Breeders’ Cup winner on Future Stars Friday with Essential Quality in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
The undefeated Godolphin homebred was last seen winning the Claiborne Breeders Futurity (G1) here at Keeneland. Already proven on a two turn format with familiar rider Luis Saez, Essential Quality sat off the contested pace of the 14-horse Juvenile field making a huge wide run around the far turn to overtake pacesetters Dreamer’s Disease and Jackie’s Warrior, and held off late runs from competitors. Essential Qualtiy was conditioner Brad Cox’s second Breeders’ Cup winner on the day.
Now a dual Grade 1 winner, Essential Quality is a likely 2-year-old champion, and we look forward to where he goes as a sophomore on the Kentucky Derby trail. Bred in Kentucky by Goldolphin, he is out of Delightful Quality, and Elusive Quality half-sister to Breeders’ Cup champion juvenile filly Folklore, who was also the champion 2-year-old filly of her class.