Essential Quality, Knicks Go put in works for Breeders' Cup Classic
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Essential Quality and Knicks Go, two of the leading contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, both were out for serious work Saturday for trainer Brad Cox at Churchill Downs.
Essential Quality went five furlongs in 1:01 in company, while Knicks Go went a solo half-mile in 49.60 seconds. Both will have two more works at Churchill before being part of a large Kentucky contingent scheduled to be flown Nov. 1 from Indianapolis to California via FedEx.
Cox, meanwhile, has decided not to send Bonny South to the BC Distaff on Nov. 6 after the 4-year-old Juddmonte Farms homebred finished third by four lengths behind Letruska in the Spinster on Oct. 10.
Gaffalione to the fore
As the 17-day Keeneland fall meet reaches its exact midway point Wednesday, Tyler Gaffalione has taken firm control of the jockey standings with 15 wins, more than double his closest rival, Florent Geroux (7).
The trainers’ race is much closer, with Wesley Ward holding a 7-6 edge over Brad Cox. Chad Brown and Ken McPeek are next with four apiece.