May, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Essential Quality Readies for Belmont

Godolphin's Essential Quality (Tapit) breezed a sharp five furlongs in :59.80 at Churchill Downs Saturday morning. The move was the fifth fastest of 40 horses at the distance. The grey worked in company with 5-year-old graded stakes winner Night Ops (Warrior's Reward) through early fractions of :24.20 and :47.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

Named the juvenile champion colt following a victory in last fall's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, trained by Brad Cox-trained colt won the GIII Southwest S. and GII Toyota Blue Grass S. before finishing fourth as the 5-2 favorite in the May 1 Kentucky Derby.

A total of 169 horses registered works at Churchill Downs Saturday morning, including GII Risen Star S. winner Mandaloun (Into Mischief), who cruised an easy half-mile in :48.20. Runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, the Juddmonte homebred next start is still to be determined, according to Cox.

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Essential Quality Sharp In Belmont Stakes Breeze At Churchill Downs

Godolphin's Essential Quality, the Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) favorite and likely top betting choice for the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1), breezed a sharp five furlongs in :59.80 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs, the fifth fastest of 40 horses at the distance at the Louisville, Ky., track.

Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality was the 5-2 favorite in the May 1 Kentucky Derby and crossed the wire fourth behind Medina Spirit, Mandaloun and Hot Rod Charlie.

The Tapit colt worked Saturday in company with 5-year-old graded stakes winner Night Ops through early fractions of :24.20 and :47.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

There were 169 horses that donned the Saturday work tab at Churchill Downs including Juddmonte's Mandaloun who cruised an easy half-mile in :48.20. His next start is still to be determined, according to Cox.

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New Bonus Plan for BC Owners & Breeders

The British Columbia Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association (BCTOBA) and Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association of British Columbia (HBPA of BC) have banded together to help owners and breeders of British Columbia after noticing a decline in mares bred and a decline in entries to local sales, both believed to be due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

A five-year, two-part plan has been established. Internal adjustments to the purse accounts will provide a 35% bonus to those owners racing a BC-bred in 2022 through 2026, an increase from the current 25% bonus. Additionally, yearlings purchased in 2021 and 2022 at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) sale(s) will have an extra 15% added to the BC-bred bonus in their 2- and 3-year-old seasons, making it a 50% BC-bred bonus.

“This plan makes sense and offers hope to our BC breeders and prospective owners in the future of this business,” said Grant Watson of the CTHS. “Working together we will survive and get past this COVID disaster we have all faced. I can only say to the HBPA and BCTOBA thank you for your understanding and your support as we move forward to more successful times.”

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Geroux Riding Momentum From Derby Week Success At Churchill Downs

Jockey Florent Geroux is enjoying his early success at the Churchill Downs spring meet in Louisville, Ky., and entered Saturday's 11-race card one win behind Tyler Gaffalione for the top honors in the jockey standings.

The 34-year-old native of France recorded 17 wins from 64 mounts with purse earnings just shy of $2.2 million.

“We had a very successful Kentucky Derby week to begin the meet and we kept the momentum from there,” Geroux said. “We're riding for some great owners and trainers and, most importantly, some live horses.”

Geroux's early success at the meet helped him rise to third in overall North American purse earnings with $7,880,342. He sits just behind Irad Ortiz Jr. and Joel Rosario.

Represented by Doug Bredar, Geroux was tabbed to ride eight horses Saturday night including the morning line favorites in both stakes events: Frank's Rockette (6-5) in the $150,000 Winning Colors (G3) and Delta's Kingdom (5-2) in the $110,000 Keertana Overnight Stakes.

Geroux is seeking his first leading rider title at Churchill Downs.

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