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Essential Quality Exits Jim Dandy In Good Order, Targets Travers Next

Essential Quality, the reigning Champion 2-Year-Old and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets winner, was a determined victor of Saturday's $600,000 Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and will now target the meet's signature event, the $1.25 million Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 28.

The Godolphin-owned son of Tapit, trained by Brad Cox, overcame a five-wide trip on both turns, rating at the rear of the compact field down the backstretch and fended off an inside rally from Keepmeinmind to finish off the nine furlongs in 1:49.92 over the fast main track.

“The more I looked at it, the more I wondered how much pace was in the race and then I thought we'd be forwardly placed just because he was fresh,” Cox said. “The horse to the inside of us [Keepmeinmind] was also fresh. I think it played out kind of the way we expected. Obviously, I didn't think we would be caught quite as wide, but I thought it would be a well-grouped bunch of horses going into the first turn. He's able to dig in and fight and continue on.”

The Jim Dandy marked a sixth graded stakes victory from the gray sophomore colt, who earned championship honors last season with victories in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, both at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

After a triumphant 3-year-old debut over a sloppy track in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., he returned to the Lexington oval in the Grade 2 Blue Grass where he bested Highly Motivated to secure victory by a neck.

Essential Quality suffered his only defeat as the favorite in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby when fourth beaten a length after a wide trip in upper stretch, but returned to action with a determined victory in the Belmont Stakes when outdueling Hot Rod Charlie down the lane to win by 1 ¼ lengths.

“We always thought he was a good horse, but you just always hope all of them show that talent to reach a Grade 1 level,” Cox said. “Obviously, he was able to do that in only his second start, so he answered a lot of our questions early on as to how good he was.”

Cox expressed appreciation in being able to train horses for a world-class racing and breeding operation like Godolphin.

“Obviously, this is a dream come true, but it's a lot of hard work, good horses, great staff, and great clientele that has given us the opportunity and put us in the position to succeed,” Cox said.

Essential Quality would look to become the first horse since Alpha to capture the Jim Dandy-Runhappy Travers double.

Cox could hold a strong hand for the Runhappy Travers as Juddmonte Farm's Mandaloun, winner of the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, is also a possible contender. Cox said a breeze next weekend will likely determine which direction Mandaloun goes.

Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin's North American operations, expressed satisfaction in running Essential Quality before the Travers and said both he and Cox were on the same page in terms of running in the Jim Dandy.

“Things are looking well, we have some nice things to look forward to,” Bell said following the Jim Dandy. “He got a lot out of this race. I would not take this for granted and Brad said very quickly he was glad he ran him. I think this will move him forward to his training for the Travers. We're obviously very pleased with the effort, the outcome and he keeps on showing up.”

Essential Quality is out of the multiple stakes-placed Elusive Quality mare Delightful Quality, who has a 2-year-old filly by Uncle Mo named Famed in training at Keeneland.

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Essential Quality Holds Off Keepmeinmind For Jim Dandy Win

In a hard-fought battle to the wire, Essential Quality, the 2-5 favorite, prevailed by a half-length over a tenacious Keepmeinmind to win Saturday's nine-furlong, $600,000 Grade 2 Jim Dandy for 3-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The Godolphin homebred's victory in the 58th running of the Jim Dandy stamped him as the favorite for Saratoga's signature race, the $1.25 million Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 28. In June, the handsome gray son of Tapit was the decisive winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

Essential Quality, who has been piloted by Luis Saez in seven of his eight career starts, defeated four rivals after the scratch of Risk Taking.

Dr Jack broke sharp from his rail post and was followed by Masqueparade, Weyburn, and Keepmeinmind. Saez had Essential Quality in the clear on the outside in fifth, not far off the leaders. Following sharp fractions of :23.81, :47.41, and 1:11.13 on the fast main track, the pacesetter was retreating while Masqueparade and Weyburn were taking up prominent positions as the field turned for home.

But Essential Quality, with a sweeping outside move, bore down on those rivals, while Keepmeinmind, whose sire Laoban won the 2016 Jim Dandy, was snaking his way up on the rail. It then became a race down to the finish line between those two, with Essential Quality pulling clear in the shadow of the wire, stopping the clock in 1:49.92.

It was a nail-biter for Essential Quality's trainer, Brad Cox.

“When they straightened up, I thought, 'Wow we've been wide both turns,' and then we see a horse slip up the inside [No. 4, Keepmeinmind] who looked like he had some run left,” Cox said. “It made for some anxious moments down the lane. Overall, he's a very determined horse. He has the heart of a champion. He's a good horse, he stays on.

“There was a lot of ground lost today,” Cox added. “Luis obviously had to work to win. He got something out of it, I do think that. I think he's carrying a little more weight now than he was leading up to the Derby or Belmont. I think this was a good tightener for him, four weeks out [from the Travers].”

The win marked a second straight and third overall Jim Dandy win for Godolphin, whose royal blue colors scored last year with Mystic Guide as well as with Alpha in 2012. The last time a Jim Dandy winner connected with a victory in the Travers was 2012 when Alpha finished in a dead-heat for the win with Golden Ticket.

Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin operations in the United States, said, “The really good horses just show up and find a way to get things done and he has seemed to do that every start. Consistency has been his hallmark and it was a battle down the stretch. It was probably good for him, which is easier to say after the race than when they're at the sixteenth pole.”

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For his part, Saez said, he felt confident he was sitting aboard the winner.

“I saw him [No. 4, Keepmeinmind], but I had a lot of horse and I knew he was going to finish,” the meet's leading rider said. “The plan today was not to take too much away from him. He always fights and he always wants to win.”

Essential Quality returned $2.80 for a $2 win wager. Find this race's chart here.

Masqueparade finished third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Keepmeinmind, and was followed under the wire by Weyburn and Dr Jack.

The win elevated Essential Quality's earnings to $3,545,144 and brought last year's 2-year-old champion's record to 7-0-0 from eight starts. His lone career loss came in the Kentucky Derby when he crossed the wire in fourth place.

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Essential Quality Outslugs Keepmeinmind in Jim Dandy

Intangibles make good horses great horses.

Consigned to the widest trip of any of the five runners left for Saturday's GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga, Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' and reigning 2-year-old male Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality (Tapit) was under the pump fully a half-mile from home, but–as he has demonstrated on more than one occasion during a season that appears again to be on a championship trajectory–the gunmetal gray colt looked a rival straight in the eye, wagged his finger Dikembe Mutumbo-style and willed himself to the line a half-length to the good.

The vanquished on this occasion was Keepmeinmind (Laoban), who sat a much softer trip than the champion and was in receipt of four pounds, but was simply outgamed. Masqueparade (Upstart), who beat Keepmeinmind narrowly into third when they squared off in the GIII Ohio Derby late last month, rounded out the trifecta.

“The really good horses just show up and find a way to get things done and he has seemed to do that every start,” said Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin USA, who also won last year's delayed race with 'Rising Star' Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) and was winning the Jim Dandy for the third time overall. Alpha (Bernardini) won the 2012 renewal. “Consistency has been his hallmark and it was a battle down the stretch. That's the mark of a really good horse that when things aren't always their way, they find a way.”

The Jim Dandy field more or less raced in post position order into the clubhouse turn, with Dr Jack (Pioneerof the Nile) spearing through to lead from Masqueparade, with Weyburn (Pioneer of the Nile) three out. Keepmeinmind landed in fourth spot while proving a tough steer for Joel Rosario, while Luis Saez committed the 2-5 favorite to an overland trip, but in the clear and in touch through an opening quarter in :23.81.

Positions were largely unchanged after a half that was posted in a solid :47.41, but Dr Jack came under attack and had run his race passing the three-eighths. Weyburn was winding up three deep, while Essential Quality was charting his wide course and a better-settled Keepmeinmind and Rosario were looking for a ground-saving passage nearer the inside. Still busily ridden, Essential Quality joined the battle in earnest about four wide outside of Weyburn nearing the stretch, but when Masqueparade floated a bit wide, the rail was open for Keepmeinmind and the stage was set. The chalk hit the front while working his way down into the three path and carried a slender advantage into the final furlong. Keepmeinmind was in for the fight, however, and boxed on tenaciously at the fence, perhaps just nosing in front at the sixteenth pole as he attempted to emulate his late sire's upset victory in this event five years ago. But drawing on his heart and considerable will to win, Essential Quality counterpunched and proved fractionally best on the wire while covering 39 feet (about four lengths) more than the runner-up, according to Trakus data.

“When they straightened up, I thought, 'Wow we've been wide both turns,' and then we see a horse slip up the who looked like he had some run left,” said winning trainer Brad Cox. “It made for some anxious moments down the lane. Overall, he's a very determined horse. He has the heart of a champion. He's a good horse, he stays on.”

Essential Quality completed an unblemished three-race freshman campaign with a 3/4-length defeat of Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 6, with Keepmeinmind a longshot third, a little more than a length behind the runner-up. The homebred resumed with a wide-trip, 4 1/4-length success in Oaklawn's GIII Southwest S. Feb. 27, then showed battling qualities when decisioning a very game Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 3. Third home on that occasion was Rombauer (Twirling Candy), next-out winner of the GI Preakness S. Drawn 14 of 19 as the 29-10 favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby May 1, Essential Quality sat a trip better than midfield and was wide into the lane, but hung late to finish fourth, beaten just a length by Medina Spirit (Protonico). Connections were content to skip Old Hilltop in favor of the GI Belmont S. June 5 and in another war of attrition, he joined pacesetting Hot Rod Charlie at the top of the lane and the two classy rivals threw down through the stretch at Big Sandy. Essential Quality was the last one standing, providing Tapit with his fourth Belmont winner in the last eight years.

The GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 28 is the next likely start for Essential Quality.

“As long as he comes out of it well, we'll probably work him seven to 14 days out, weather permitting on the main track,” said Cox. “Similar works to what he had leading up to this. He's going to get more out of this that he is working in the morning. I'm glad we were able to get this in him as a tightener for the Travers.”

Pedigree Notes:

Essential Quality is one of 146 stakes winners, 91 graded/group winners and 27 top-level scorers for Tapit, who was represented by his sixth G1/GISW as a broodmare sire when Lexitonian (Speightstown) upset the GI A.G. Vanderbilt H. Essential Quality is the fourth foal for his dam, a half-sister to champion Folklore (Tiznow), whose own dam Contrive (Storm Cat) was acquired by Godolphin for $3 million in foal to Pleasantly Perfect at Fasig-Tipton November in 2005. Essential Quality's female family has seen its value and importance skyrocket over the last year, as Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song), a winning daughter of Folklore, has gone on to produce Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Delightful Quality is the dam of Essential Quality's 2-year-old half-sister Famed (Uncle Mo), but did not produce a foal in the next two seasons and was most recently returned to Tapit.

Saturday, Saratoga
JIM DANDY S.-GII, $582,000, Saratoga, 7-31, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.92, ft.
1–ESSENTIAL QUALITY, 124, 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, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Luis Saez.
$330,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo colt, MGISW,
8-7-0-0, $3,545,144. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Keepmeinmind, 120, c, 3, Laoban–Inclination, by Victory
Gallop. O-Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith, &
Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Southern Equine Stables, LLC (KY);
T-Robertino Diodoro. $120,000.
3–Masqueparade, 120, c, 3, Upstart–Cry War Eagle, by Any
Given Saturday. ($100,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; $180,000 Ylg
'19 KEESEP). O-FTGGG Racing; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY);
T-Albert M. Stall, Jr. $72,000.
Margins: HF, 2 1/4, 4. Odds: 0.40, 9.10, 5.30.
Also Ran: Weyburn, Dr Jack. Scratched: Risk Taking.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Shedaresthedevil Returns To Del Mar Ready To Run In Grade 1 Hirsch

Shedaresthedevil departed Del Mar in September of 2019 after competing in two stakes races for 2-year-old fillies.

The daughter of Daredevil had finished third in the $200,000 Grade 2 Sorrento before being switched from dirt to grass for a fourth-place result after setting the pace in the $100,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf on the closing day of the meeting.

Shedaresthedevil stepped off a van in the stable area of the track Wednesday evening following a journey from Kentucky. And trust Eric Gary, the assistant to trainer Brad Cox who arrived a while earlier, the two years had made a big difference.

“She is one big, mature filly,” said Gary.

Gary, a Louisiana-born, second-generation trainer has only been working for nationally prominent Cox for a couple of months. But with Cox and his son Blake occupied at Saratoga with Essential Quality in Saturday's $600,000 Grade 2 Jim Dandy, among others, Gary got the call to travel with and saddle Shedaresthedevil for Sunday's $300,000 Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Shedaresthedevil, whose five graded stakes victories in 2020-21 include the 2020 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and 2021 Grade 1 La Troienne, both at Churchill Downs, is the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the Hirsh, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Gary estimated that Shedaresthedevil might “be pushing toward 18” hands in height – nearly 6-feet measured at the withers, or top of the shoulder. He invited a visitor into the stall to stand next to her for verification and it produced no argument.

“She's very easy going around the barn, but very aggressive when it's time for training or racing,” Gary said.

Shedaresthedevil won four times and was never out of the money in seven starts in 2020 for earnings of $1,193,070. This year, she's 2-for-3 with wins in the Grade 2 Azeri at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., in March, the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., in April, and a third to Letruska, the current No. 1 rated older filly or mare on dirt, in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on June 5 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

All three races were at 1 1/16 miles, the same distance as the Hirsch. Because of the huge layout of Belmont Park, the Phipps was contested around one turn. Connections for Shedaresthedevil are hoping that a return to two turns creates a return to the winner's circle.

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Del Mar will be her fourth track in as many starts this year.

“She travels really well,” Gary said. “We've had her out a couple times and she has handled the track really well. I think this race has probably been a part of the plan for her all along. The ultimate goal is the Breeders' Cup here, so that would figure.”

Shedaresthedevil did her serious training at Ellis Park in Kentucky and got high praise from Cox's assistant there according to Gary. Race instructions and strategy will be up to Cox and jockey Florent Geroux.

“They're very close, I know they're very happy with the way she has trained and they have a plan they've already talked about,” Gary said.

The Clement L. Hirsch field from the rail with jockeys and morning line odds in parenthesis: Warren's Showtime (Juan Hernandez, 8-1); Clockstrikestwelve (Kyle Frey, 30-1); As Time Goes By (Mike Smith, 8-5); Paige Anne (Flavien Prat, 15-1); Cover Version (Abel Cedillo, 30-1); Venetian Harbor (Mario Gutierrez, 2-1) and Shedaresthedevil (Florent Geroux, 7-5).

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