Essential Quality gets back to work after Belmont Stakes win

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Essential Quality had his first breeze since he won the Belmont Stakes on June 5 when going a half-mile in 48.80 seconds without company early Saturday at Churchill.

Trainer Brad Cox said he intends to work Essential Quality again this coming weekend at Churchill.

“I’m planning on working quite a few of our best horses before we scoot out of here with everything” on Monday, he said, including Mandaloun. “Some of our stable is leaving for Saratoga earlier in the week.”

The Travers on Aug. 28 is the main summer goal for Essential Quality, with maybe the Jim Dandy on July 31 at Saratoga as a stepping-stone. As for Mandaloun, who goes next in the Haskell on July 17 at Monmouth Park, he’ll be among five or six Cox runners being sent straight from Churchill to New Jersey on Monday.

Two big days for Meah

Less than 48 hours prior to Anna Meah sending out Irish-bred Abby Hatcher to a 19-1 upset of the Grade 3 Chicago on Saturday at Arlington Park, the 28-year-old trainer also pulled off something of an unusual feat at Churchill Downs.

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Meah was sending out another Irish-bred, Jungle Juice, off just four days’ rest when the 5-year-old mare held on to win a second-level allowance Thursday evening. Jungle Juice had finished last of six in the June 19 Roxelana.

On Sunday, reflecting on the Chicago being the first graded stakes win in a career that began in October 2018 in California, Meah posted on Twitter: “Easily one of the best days of my life.”

◗ When Navratilova captured the Saturday nightcap at Churchill, the Tepin Stakes, she became the final winner over a turf course that’s been in use since 1986. Sunday morning was the last time the old course was allowed for usage, with 13 horses posting official works over it, including multiple stakes winners Arklow, Bound for Nowhere, and Change of Control.