February, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Champion Essential Quality Takes the Southwest

Mother Nature did her level best over the last couple of weeks to try to wreak havoc with the seasonal debut of Godolphin's undefeated Eclipse Award winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit).

An atypically cold and snowy stretch of weather in and around Hot Springs left the track closed for several days and set maintenance crews the monumental task of first clearing the better part of a foot of snow, then caring for the strip which bore a resemblance more to a construction site than it did Thoroughbred horse track. Oaklawn triumphantly welcomed the return of racing this past Thursday, and Saturday, hosted a potentially mouthwatering match-up between the champ and the outstanding MGISW Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music). In the end, however, it was a one-horse show, as Essential Quality belied a near four-month absence and an interrupted training regimen to consolidate his position atop most every Derby poll with a sound defeat of California raider Spielberg (Union Rags). Jackie's Warrior was a valiant, albeit well-beaten third.

“He showed up and ran his race. It was somewhat of a relief to get this race over with,” said trainer Brad Cox. “The delay of the race, the track condition, just a lot of obstacles to overcome. Good horses do overcome, but it doesn't mean the trainer doesn't worry. We just want to wrap him in bubble wrap and get to the next race.”

Favored at 90 cents on the dollar while making his first start since securing the 2-year-old championship in the Nov. 7 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, Essential Quality jumped neatly from gate one and was almost immediately guided away from the inside by Luis Saez, as 6-5 Jackie's Warrior made the running from the two path in advance of the progressive Woodhouse (Speightstown). As he did with Mystic Guide in the Razorback a few races earlier, Saez kept the gray colt in the clear and out of harm's way while tugging against him through the middle stages before allowing him to take closer order on the second turn. Handled confidently while asked to win his race three wide off the final corner, Essential Quality eased alongside the dueling pacesetters after six furlongs in 1:13.59, easily claimed Jackie's Warrior in upper stretch and powered home a much-the-best winner. Spielberg was slowly into stride from the outside alley, took a mild run at the eventual winner passing the midstretch marker and kept on to be clearly second.

“The plan was to try to follow him [Jackie's Warrior] the whole way,” Saez said. “Everything came together. He broke pretty well and at the five-eighths pole he took the bridle and was really pulling me, but I was waiting, just trying to wait with him. We came to the stretch just so easy. He switched leads and just took off. What a nice horse. He finished very strong and I still had a lot of horse.”

Accorded 'Rising Star' status off an impressive four-length debut success over six furlongs of the Churchill main track on the Derby undercard Sept. 5, Essential Quality validated 19-10 favoritism to give his owners a second consecutive victory in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 3. The second choice to Jackie's Warrior on Breeders' Cup Friday, the homebred got the race run to suit, as he closed from midpack off a furious pace to best Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) and next-out GII Kentucky Jockey Club hero Keepmeinmind (Laoban) by three-parts of a length. Jackie's Warrior attended those enervating fractions and was scarcely disgraced in finishing fourth.

Pedigree Notes:

Essential Quality gave his sire the first half of a sweep of the day's Derby preps, preceding by about 20 minutes the scintillating performance of Greatest Honour in the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream. His Grade III-placed dam is a daughter of Contrive, the dam of 2005 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and Eclipse Award winner Folklore (Tiznow) and SW & GSP Divided Attention (A.P. Indy). Folklore is the dam of Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song), whose son Contrive (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) swept all three legs of the Japanese Triple Crown in 2020 and is preparing for a possible 4-year-old debut in the G1 Osaka Hai Apr. 4. Delightful Quality is the dam of a 2-year-old filly by Uncle Mo and is due to the latter's son Nyquist this year.

Saturday, Oaklawn
SOUTHWEST S.-GIII, $750,000, Oaklawn, 2-27, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:45.48, sy.
1–ESSENTIAL QUALITY, 119, c, 3, by Tapit
1st Dam: Delightful Quality (GSP, $253,900), by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Contrive, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Jeano, by Fappiano
'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Luis Saez. $450,000.
Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $1,785,144. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Spielberg, 119, c, 3, Union Rags–Miss Squeal, by Smart Strike.
($1,000,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing,
Madaket Stables LLC, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm LLC and
Masterson, Robert E.; B-G. Watts Humphrey (KY); T-Bob
Baffert. $150,000.
3–Jackie's Warrior, 119, c, 3, Maclean's Music–Unicorn Girl, by
A.P. Five Hundred. ($95,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Robison, J. Kirk
and Judy; B-J & J Stables (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $75,000.
Margins: 4 1/4, 4 1/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 0.90, 7.20, 1.20.
Also Ran: Woodhouse, Last Samurai, Santa Cruiser, Saffa's Day. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Fearless Records First Stakes Triumph In Gulfstream Park Mile

WinStar Farm LLC and CHC Inc.'s Fearless made a triumphant return to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., on Saturday to collect his first stakes success in the $200,000 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile (G2).

The Gulfstream Park Mile, a one-turn mile event for older horses, was one of nine stakes worth more than $1.4 million on a 14-race program headlined by the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2), a key prep for the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill n' Dale Farm at Xalapa March 27.

Fearless ($7.60), who launched his career with back-to-back victories during the 2019-2020 Championship Meet, was making his first start since finishing sixth in the Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill Downs June 20.

“Our biggest concern was that in his last couple starts he dropped back. We were hoping that being fresh that he'd put himself into the race a little bit,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He broke well and got in a good stalking position. He was forward from there and kicked on and ran like we hoped he would.”The 5-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper rated well for Irad Ortiz Jr. several lengths behind pacesetter Wind of Change, who opened up several lengths on the field while speeding the first quarter of a mile in 23.60 seconds. Wind of Change continued to show the way on the far turn and completed the first half-mile in 46.50 before shortening stride as Fearless and his other rivals started to close in. Fearless went to the lead at the top of the stretch and continued on gamely to hold off Avant Garde by three-quarters of a length.

“I got a perfect trip. He broke and put me into the race. After that, I didn't want to hurry him. I waited and when I asked him he responded,” Ortiz said.

Avant Garde, who was ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, finished two lengths ahead of 9-10 favorite Performer and jockey Jose Ortiz.

After winning his first two races at Gulfstream, Fearless hit the road to finish sixth in the New Orleans (G2) at Fair Grounds, before finishing second in an Oaklawn Park optional claiming allowance and a victory in an optional claiming allowance at Churchill Downs. He was never a factor while racing very wide in the Foster.

“Todd does what Todd does, and they come out running. He ran a super race,” said WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden. “We were pretty confident, seeing him breeze the last few times.”

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Former Churchill Downs President Lynn Stone Passes Away

Former Churchill Downs CEO and president Albert Lynn Stone, better known as Lynn Stone, passed away Feb. 22 in Lexington, Ky. He was 95.

During Stone's tenure at the helm of Churchill, from 1970-84, the Louisville track witnessed a remarkable three Triple Crown winners in Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed. As Churchill's ninth president, he was responsible for instituting the 20-horse limit in the Kentucky Derby and also oversaw $10-million in physical improvements that included new Skye Terraces, a press box, jockey quarters, 12 new barns, fire-resistant tack rooms, sprinkling systems in all barns, a recreation building, restroom facilities, and fireproof stairways in the grandstand and clubhouse.

Stone had originally joined the Louisville track in 1961 as resident manager and jointly spent several years as president of both Churchill and Florida's Hialeah Park. He also served two terms as president of the Thoroughbred Racing Association of North America and was on various boards, including the American Horse Council, Jockey Club Round Table, and Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeders' Association.

Born in New Orleans in 1925, Stone was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. A career in professional baseball followed. He signed with the New York Yankees and played with other minor league teams, then moved into management. He was part of the 1958 move of the Milwaukee Braves Triple-A team to Louisville and served as general manager of the Louisville Colonels until Churchill beckoned.

After retiring, Stone continued as a consultant to Churchill and other racing and sports organizations. Survivors include his wife, Jane Stokes Stone; three sons: Michael Stone (Katharine Friel) of Versailles, Patrick (Nora) Stone of Lawrenceburg, and Steve (Leslie) Stone of Nicholasville; two step-children: Charles (Christine) Halloran of Washington, D.C. and Ann Tarter Halloran of Lexington; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

A public visitation will be held from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home-Harrodsburg Road in Lexington. Private funeral services will be held at Kerr Brothers, with private burial to follow at Camp Nelson National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to either the American Legion Man O' War Post #8 (1230 Man O' War Place, Lexington, KY 40504) or the Alzheimer's Association (Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Chapter–Kaden Tower, 6100 Dutchmans Lane, Ste 401, Louisville, KY 40205-3284).

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Venezuelan Hug Finds Room Late To Capture Canadian Turf

Spedale Family Racing and R. A. Hill Stable's Venezuelan Hug, racing on the inside throughout, found a seam between horses nearing the wire and got his nose down to edge Olympic Runner in Saturday's $125,000 Canadian Turf (G3) at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The 55^th running of the 1 1/16-mile Canadian Turf for older turf horses was the fourth of nine stakes, eight graded, worth $1.475 million on a blockbuster 14-race program headlined by the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) for 3-year-olds on the road to the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa March 27, and $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) featuring the seasonal debut of 2-year-old filly champion Vequist.

A 4-year-old by Constitution, Venezuelan Hug ($11) improved to 5-0 lifetime at the distance and gave jockey Junior Alvarado his second stakes win on the card, following Annex in the $100,000 Palm Beach. The winning time was 1:40.42 over a firm course.

Bizzee Channel, sent off at 25-1, set fractions of 23.69 seconds for a quarter-mile and 48.48 for the half under moderate pressure from Winters Back to his outside, with Fancy Liquor and Gear Jockey racing in behind and Alvarado saving ground along the rail in fifth to the inside of Olympic Runner.

Winters Back moved up and took a short lead over Bizzee Channel once straightened for home, while Olympic Runner swung to the outside to launch a bid while Alvarado bided his time on Venezuelan Hug. Olympic Runner appeared on the way to victory until Venezuelan Hug split Winters Back on his inside and Gear Jockey to earn his third consecutive win, all in stakes.

Olympic Runner edged 25-1 long shot Gear Jockey for second, with Winters Back fourth and 5-2 favorite Eons fifth.

$125,000 Canadian Turf (G3) Quotes

Winning trainer Danny Gargan (Venezuelan Hug): “I got a little concerned when he got stuck down in there. He's such a big horse, I was a little worried he wouldn't be able to get through. The only instructions I gave Junior was that he likes to make his run on the outside, but he's won a couple times on the inside now so he's maturing. He does really well pretty much everywhere we've had him, but he does love it down here. He likes two turns. He really digs in and gives you a big effort every time.”

“He's a really big horse, he's almost 17 hands, and I said just try to keep him out of trouble and when you ask him, he'll come running for you. I expected a big performance from him. I told [co-owner] Randy [Hill] to book his flight and come down here because he'll have a lot of fun today. He was lucky enough to win two today. It's kind of exciting when your owners can come to town and have a big day.”

Winning jockey Junior Alvarado (Venezuelan Hug): “That's what happens on the turf. Sometimes you get lucky and you get through it and you look like a hero. Sometimes you don't get through it and you look like the bad guy. I just was glad that I had the horse today. He pushed through it and made my job easier. I just had to go with him. He's such a cool horse.”

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