Cox Plans To Train Essential Quality Up To Breeders’ Cup Classic

Trainer Brad Cox will not start juvenile champion Essential Quality again before the Breeders' Cup Classic, reports the Daily Racing Form. Instead, the 3-year-old son of Tapit will train up to the race at his home base of Churchill Downs.

“The plan is to have all his works here,” Cox told DRF. “He'll pretty much work every Saturday from here on in until we leave for Del Mar. It's 10 weeks from the Travers to the Classic, and that's just fine.”

This year, Essential Quality has racked up wins in the G3 Southwest, G2 Blue Grass, G1 Belmont, G2 Jim Dandy, and G1 Travers Stakes. His only loss came in the Kentucky Derby, in which the colt finished fourth, beaten one length at the wire.

Conversely, the champion's stablemate Knicks Go will have his final Breeders' Cup prep in the Lukas Classic on Oct. 2 at Churchill.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

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Essential Quality Retains Top Spot In Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

Essential Quality, the Belmont Stakes (G1) and the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) winner, retained the No. 1 position for the third consecutive week in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, a weekly poll of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). This year's Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will be run at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 6 as the final race of the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Owned by Godolphin and trained by Brad Cox, the 3-year-old Essential Quality accumulated 273 votes, and leads stablemate Knicks Go, who is in second place with 270 votes. Also trained by Cox, the 5-year-old Knicks Go has won the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park and the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga this year.

Godolphin's 4-year-old Maxfield, trained by Brendan Walsh, stayed in third place with 221 votes. A three-time winner in 2020, Maxfield secured an automatic berth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic when he captured the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in June. Belmont Stakes runner-up Hot Rod Charlie, trained by Doug O'Neill, is in fourth place with 178 votes. Owned by Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss, Hot Rod Charlie has been entered in Saturday's Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing.

George E. Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corp's Max Player has won two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races in the Longines Classic Division this year, scoring victories in the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park in July and The Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga earlier this month. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Max Player is in fifth place with 163 votes.

Hronis Racing's 4-year-old Tripoli, who gained a free berth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic when he won the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar in August, is in sixth place. Trained by John Sadler, Tripoli has 96 votes.

There was some juggling in the standings from places seven through 10 this week. Winchell Thoroughbreds' 3-year-old Midnight Bourbon rose two positions from ninth to seventh place with 90 points. Also trained by Asmussen, Midnight Bourbon finished a close second to Essential Quality in the Runhappy Travers Stakes. Midnight Bourbon is also entered in the Pennsylvania Derby. Prince A A Faisal's 4-year-old Mishriff (IRE) improved from 10th place to eighth with 64 votes. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Mishriff earned an automatic starting position in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic when he won the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York Racecourse in England on Aug. 18.

Zedan Racing Stable's 3-year-old Medina Spirit, winner of the listed Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar, slipped one spot to ninth place with 61 votes. St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska dropped from seventh place to 10th with 53 votes. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska has won three Grade 1 races this year, including last month's Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga.

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Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Sept. 21, 2021*

Rank Horse Votes First-Place Votes Previous Week
1 Essential Quality 273 8 1
2 Knicks Go 270 16 2
3 Maxfield 221 3 3
4 Hot Rod Charlie 178 1 4
5 Max Player 163 0 5
6 Tripoli 96 0 6
7 Midnight Bourbon 90 0 9
8 Mishriff (IRE) 64 2 10
9 Medina Spirit 61 0 8
10 Letruska 53 0 7

*Note – The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 ¼ miles on the main track, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 11. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

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Warrant Tabbed As Morning-Line Favorite In Oklahoma Derby

The Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby has collected a quality field for the Sept. 26 renewal at Remington Park. A cast of previous derby winners are featured in a field of eight to contest the 1-1/8 miles.

The Oklahoma Derby headlines a stellar stakes-laden program on Sept. 26, including the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks.

Warrant, from the strong barn of trainer Brad Cox, winner of the $300,000 Texas Derby in May at Lone Star Park, has been made the morning-line favorite at 5-2 odds. The Oklahoma Derby came up tough to determine a morning-line favorite with three past derby winners all extremely close in the equation. Joel Rosario will come into Remington Park to ride Warrant. He was also the pilot in the colt's score in the Texas Derby, over the slop on May 31.

Mr. Wireless, a two-time derby winner, has entered the Oklahoma Derby from the barn of trainer Bret Calhoun. Triumphant in the Grade 3, $500,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park on Aug. 7 and before that, the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand on July 7, Mr. Wireless will be ridden by Ramon Vazquez. Remington Park odds-maker Jerry Shottenkirk has set Mr. Wireless at 3-1 odds.

Super Stock, winner of the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby in April at Oaklawn Park has been tabbed the third morning-line favorite at 7-2 odds. Recently victorious in the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby in Kentucky on Aug. 15, Super Stock is trained by Steve Asmussen, racing's all-time winningest trainer, and will be ridden by Ricardo Santana, the hottest jockey on Remington Park's biggest day since the mid-2010s.

Super Stock's Arkansas Derby win punched his ticket to the Grade 1, $3,000,000 Kentucky Derby in May, where he finished 16th in a field of 19.

Trainer Karl Broberg has entered Flash Of Mischief, fresh off his score in the $250,000 St. Louis Derby at Fanduel Fairmount Park. Joe Talamo handled the colt in his last derby and will be in for the mount again in the Oklahoma Derby. Flash Of Mischief is at 8-1 in the morning-line.

The field for the Oklahoma Derby, by post position and program number order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:

  1. Super Stock: Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana, 7-2
  2. Flash Of Mischief: Karl Broberg, Joe Talamo, 8-1
  3. Warrant: Brad Cox, Joel Rosario, 5-2 (morning-line favorite)
  4. Parrot Head: Ronnie Cravens, David Cabrera, 20-1
  5. Team Merchants: Doug O'Neill, Mario Gutierrez, 6-1
  6. Defeater: Tom Amoss, James Graham,12-1
  7. Mr. Wireless: Bret Calhoun, Ramon Vazquez, 3-1
  8. Dial In For Lute: C.R. Trout, Jose Alvarez, 15-1

The Oklahoma Derby will go as the 11th race of 12 at 8:11pm.

Pauline's Pearl, winner of the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April, has been made the morning-line favorite at 5-2 odds for the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks. The oaks is the top supporting stakes on the Oklahoma Derby Day undercard.

Trained by Asmussen, Santana will ride Pauline's Pearl. She finished eighth in the Grade 1, $1,250,000 Kentucky Oaks following her Fantasy score. Most recently she was second in the Grade 3, $400,000 Charles Town Oaks on Aug. 27.

The Remington Park Oaks will go as the eighth race on Sept. 26 at 6:33pm. Here is the lineup for the oaks by post position and program order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:

  1. Pauline's Pearl: Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana, 5-2 (morning-line favorite)
  2. Bobbin Tail: Kenny Smith, David Cabrera, 10-1
  3. Amendment Nineteen: Brad Cox, Joel Rosario, 7-2
  4. My Girl Red: Steve Asmussen, Stewart Elliott, 15-1
  5. Lovely Ride: Bret Calhoun, Reylu Gutierrez, 3-1
  6. Hailey's Melody: Joe Offolter, Luis Quinonez, 15-1
  7. Lady Mystify: Peter Eurton, Flavien Prat, 4-1

The other six stakes races on Oklahoma Derby Day include:

Race 4 – $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes, 2yo, six furlongs

Race 6 – $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial, 2-year-old fillies, 6-1/2 furlongs

Race 7 – $50,000 Flashy Lady Stakes, fillies and mares, 3 and older, six furlongs

Race 9 – $75,000 Ricks Memorial, fillies and mares, 3 and older, 1-1/16 miles (turf)

Race 10 – $150,000 David Vance Stakes, 3 and older, six furlongs

Race 12 – $100,000 Remington Green, 3 and older, 1-1/8 miles (turf)

The big Oklahoma Derby Day program begins at 3pm on Sept. 26. Remington Park racing goes with its longest week of the season, Wednesday through Sunday, Sept. 22-26. The nightly post time is 7:07pm, prior to the special derby day card. All times are Central.

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Pauline’s Pearl Headlines Remington Park Oaks Field

Pauline's Pearl, winner of the $600,000 Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April, has been made the morning-line favorite at 5-2 odds for the $200,000 Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks. The Oaks is the top supporting stakes on the Oklahoma Derby Day undercard at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Trained by Asmussen, Ricardo Santana will ride Pauline's Pearl. She finished eighth in the $1,250,000 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks following her Fantasy score. Most recently she was second in the $400,000 Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks on Aug. 27.

The Remington Park Oaks will go as the eighth race on Sept. 26 at 6:33 pm. Here is the lineup for the Oaks by post position and program order, with trainer, jockey, and morning-line odds:

1.     Pauline's Pearl: Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana, Jr., 5-2 (morning-line favorite)

2.     Bobbin Tail: Kenny Smith, David Cabrera, 10-1

3.     Amendment Nineteen: Brad Cox, Joel Rosario, 7-2

4.     My Girl Red: Steve Asmussen, Stewart Elliott, 15-1

5.     Lovely Ride: Bret Calhoun, Reylu Gutierrez, 3-1

6.     Hailey's Melody: Joe Offolter, Luis Quinonez, 15-1

7.     Lady Mystify: Peter Eurton, Flavien Prat, 4-1

 

The other six stakes races on Oklahoma Derby Day include:

Race 4 – $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes, 2yo, six furlongs

Race 6 – $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial, 2-year-old fillies, 6-1/2 furlongs

Race 7 – $50,000 Flashy Lady Stakes, fillies and mares, 3 and older, six furlongs

Race 9 – $75,000 Ricks Memorial, fillies and mares, 3 and older, 1-1/16 miles (turf)

Race 10 – $150,000 David Vance Stakes, 3 and older, six furlongs

Race 12 – $100,000 Remington Green, 3 and older, 1-1/8 miles (turf)

The big Oklahoma Derby Day program begins at 3 pm on Sept. 26. Remington Park racing goes with its longest week of the season, Wednesday through Sunday, Sept. 22-26. The nightly post time is 7:07 pm, prior to the special Derby day card. All times are Central.

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