Essential Quality

Essential Quality, a Godolphin homebred Tapit colt, won his career debut in impressive fashion on the rescheduled Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve undercard, scoring by four lengths in a six-furlong race.

Trainer Brad Cox elevated him to stakes company for his next outing in the Oct. 3 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, a Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare. Jockey Luis Saez put Essential Quality in second through the backstretch pressing the pace, and the colt took over at will heading into the far turn and was not challenged thereafter in a dominant 3 ¼-length win.

In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Saez was forced to rate Essential Quality off the pace in eighth early behind a fast opening half-mile in :45.31. Essential Quality accelerated on cue and rolled past seven horses to prevail by three-quarters of a length and state his case as a leading contender for the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male. 

Essential Quality maintained his status as the top future-book horse for the 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve through the early winter, and took home champion 2-year-old male honors at the Jan. 28 virtual Eclipse Awards.

Essential Quality made his 3-year-old debut Feb. 27 in the twice-postponed Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Luis Saez rated him off pacesetter Jackie’s Warrior and guided him into the clear while three wide on the backstretch. He moved up to challenge on the final turn and again proved much the best in the stretch with a runaway victory over Grade 2 winner Spielberg.

Making his final start in preparation for the Kentucky Derby, Essential Quality was challenged in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes April 3 at Keeneland. He stalked the pace set by uncontested Highly Motivated and moved up to challenge in early stretch. Highly Motivated was ready to fight, however, and battled him to the finish line before giving way late as Essential Quality prevailed by a neck as the 1-2 favorite.

As the 5-2 favorite in the Derby, Essential Quality rated off the pace, and although he loomed menacingly at the top of the stretch, he could not get by eventual winner Medina Spirit and ended up finishing fourth. He was elevated to third nearly 10 months later after first-place finisher Medina Spirit was disqualified by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for a medication positive.

Despite the Derby defeat, Essential Quality was the 1.30-1 favorite in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets at Belmont Park on June 5. He made his move after early leader Hot Rod Charlie as they rounded the final turn, and wore him down late for the victory. 

Essential Quality was the odds-on choice in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 31. After a wide trip, he battled in the last eighth and got up to win over Keepmeinmind by a half-length. He continued his dominant streak in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on Aug. 28, when he wore down Midnight Bourbon in the stretch for the victory. He became the first horse ever to win the Belmont, the Jim Dandy, and the Travers. 

Essential Quality went off as the favorite in the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 6. He rated off the pace on the inside, and although he closed well late, he ended up third. Essential Quality’s overall 2021 campaign was enough to secure honors as champion 3-year-old male when the Eclipse Awards were announced in February 2022.

Essential Quality is out of the graded stakes-placed winning Elusive Quality mare Delightful Quality, a half-sister to champion filly Folklore.