Month: June 2021

Essential Quality To Return To Churchill Downs Monday

Louisville-native trainer Brad Cox recorded arguably the biggest win in his young career Saturday when Godolphin's champion colt Essential Quality conquered the third jewel of the Triple Crown – the $1.5 million Grade 1 Belmont Stakes. The Tapit colt is scheduled to return to his home stall at Churchill Downs' Barn 22 Monday afternoon.

“We're so thrilled for this horse,” Cox said. “He showed why he's a champion. A lot of people have worked very hard to get this victory and we are so thankful.”

“With Tapit on the top side of his pedigree, we really thought he would get the mile-and-a-half when given the opportunity. We always thought he had the ability. After the Derby, you just have to see what it takes out of them. It's a demanding race as well as the Belmont. We were watching him for a week or so. We put our heads together and felt like if we were going to keep him in training we might as well run him. I really don't think I could keep his feet on the ground the next couple of months without keeping him on some type of breeze schedule. He's a very smart horse. He has a lot of energy but he lets you know when he's ready to run.”

Essential Quality remained in New York on Sunday with several of his Kentucky-based stablemates. They are scheduled to van about 14 hours to Louisville at 2 a.m. Monday.

Essential Quality improved his record to six wins from just seven starts with robust purse earnings of $3,215,144.

Prior to the Belmont Stakes, Essential Quality was the 5-2 post-time favorite in the $3 million Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve where he crossed the wire fourth behind Medina Spirit, Mandaloun, and Hot Rod Charlie.

Mandaloun, a stablemate to Essential Quality, worked five furlongs in :59.40 early Sunday morning at Churchill Downs with jockey Florent Geroux aboard. Owned by Juddmonte, Mandaloun is scheduled to run in next Sunday's $150,000 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth as a prep to the $1 million Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 17.

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Letters to the Editor: Rinaldo Del Gallo On Tapit

Sometimes a historical moment has to be pointed out. Australian (GB), Fair Play and Fair Play's son Man O' War each sired three GI Belmont S. winners. Lexington sired four Belmont winners who all won at Jerome Park. Now Tapit joins the illustrious ranks of Lexington.

Like Lexington, Tapit has now sired four winners of the Belmont: Essential Quality, Tapwrit, Creator and Tonalist. Tapit also sired Belmont runners-up Tacitus and Frosted, as well as Belmont third finishers Hofburg and Lani. An asterisk might be added for last year's fluke 2020 Belmont, which was 1 1/8 miles, where Tapit was the grandsire in the race won by Tiz the Law, sired by Tapit's son Constitution.

Broomstick sired three GI Preakness S. winners (and two GI Kentucky Derby winners). Bull Lea had three Kentucky Derby winners, as did Falsetto, Sir Gallahad (Fr) and Virgil. No horse has sired four winners of either the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness.

So when we speak of a horse that has sired four horses of an American Classic such as Tapit, this is rarified blood only accomplished by the legendary Lexington.

The post Letters to the Editor: Rinaldo Del Gallo On Tapit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Bravo Shifting Tack To California: With New Crop Rules, He’s Now ‘Jersey No’

Jockey Joe Bravo, a vocal opponent of the strict riding crop rules imposed at Monmouth Park this year by the New Jersey Racing Commission, is heading to Southern California.

The news was first reported on Saturday by HorseRacingNation.com.

Bravo plans to ride the final three days of the Santa Anita meet, which ends on June 20, return to New Jersey to pack up for his westward migration, then arrive at Del Mar about a week before the July 16 opening day at the seaside track.

Bravo will be represented by Matt Nakatani, son of retired jockey Corey Nakatani. Nakatani is also agent for Mario Gutierrez.

“Nick Cosato (of Slam Dunk Racing) mentioned a few things to Joe about me, and the next thing I know we're in business,” Nakatani said. “I told Joe I could use a rider of his caliber and that Del Mar is a great opportunity for us. I think he can compete with any of the top guys here.

“Joe is a world-class turf rider,” he said. “He loves to save ground and split horses. That's turf racing for you. Trainers will appreciate his abilities.”

A third-generation jockey (his father, George, and grandfather, Bartolo, also rode), Bravo, 49, was born in Long Branch, N.J., just a few miles from Monmouth Park, where he's 13 riding titles. Known as “Jersey Joe” to his fans, Bravo opted not to return to Monmouth Park this year when the New Jersey Racing Commission adopted the most stringent riding crop rules in the country, restricting use of the whip to safety purposes only. California's current rule allows six “underhand” strikes with the crop during a race, with no more than two in succession.

First licensed in 1987, Bravo has won 5,488 races and has mount earnings of $188.9 million. Among his 30 Grade 1 victories is the 2019 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita aboard Blue Prize.

Nakatani said Bravo intends to stay through this year's Breeders' Cup at Del Mar Nov. 5-6 and which point they will “reassess to see where we stand.” Nakatani added, “I wouldn't tell him to come out here if I didn't believe he had a big chance to do well.”

The post Bravo Shifting Tack To California: With New Crop Rules, He’s Now ‘Jersey No’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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