Essential Quality will try longer distance in Blue Grass Stakes

Trainer Brad Cox confirmed Sunday what was widely expected – that champion Essential Quality would have his final Kentucky Derby prep and second start of his 3-year-old season on April 3 at Keeneland in the Blue Grass Stakes.

The Godolphin homebred, a leading Kentucky Derby contender, launched his 3-year-old season Feb. 27 at Oaklawn Park with a 4 1/4-length win in the Southwest Stakes over 1 1/16 miles. The Blue Grass will mark Essential Quality’s first try at 1 1/8 miles, but while the distance is an unknown to him, the venue is not. Essential Quality won the Breeders’ Futurity and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland to secure an Eclipse award as champion 2-year-old male.

“He has the experience at Keeneland and we like the timing and everything about it right now,” Cox said Sunday.

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Luis Saez, aboard for Essential Quality’s last three starts, has the Blue Grass mount, Cox said.

Following the Southwest, Essential Quality shipped from Oaklawn back to Fair Grounds, where he has been based all winter. The colt is scheduled to have a timed workout next weekend and will work at least one more time in New Orleans before shipping north.

“We’ll just have to keep an eye on the weather at Fair Grounds and at Keeneland and see where we’re at,” Cox said.