Essential Quality works half-mile, will start in Jim Dandy
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality breezed for the first time at Saratoga on Saturday morning, cruising an easy half-mile in 50.46 per Daily Racing Form, after which trainer Brad Cox confirmed the reigning 2-year-old champion would make his next start in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy here July 31.
Essential Quality worked shortly after the renovation break over a track that had taken plenty of rain over the last couple of days and was officially listed as “good” throughout Saturday’s training session. Essential Quality broke off at a leisurely pace, went his opening quarter in 25.60 before picking it up down the lane while just coasting along throughout. The work was his third since his 1 1/4-length victory over Hot Rod Charlie in the Belmont.
“For his first move over the track, I thought it went well,” said Cox, who was on hand for the breeze. “He broke off slowly, I had 13 and 2 for his first eighth, and picked it up a little down the lane. It was good for him by himself. He’s pretty easy on himself, he doesn’t overdo it and never has. It was very similar to his first work back, by himself, after the Belmont at Churchill. I thought he skipped over the track well. He’s super happy. He was rearing up after his bath making me think I should have done a little more with him.”
Cox said if all goes well Essential Quality will have two more works here prior to the Jim Dandy.
“I did a little more with him last week at Churchill because I knew I wanted to take it easy with him the first time at Saratoga,” Cox said. “I’ll put him in company, have Saez (Luis) aboard, and do a little more with him here next week.”
Shortly before Essential Quality breezed at Saratoga, his stablemate Mandaloun turned in his final prep for next Saturday’s Grade 1 Haskell, working five furlongs in 1:02 at Monmouth Park.
“They told me he broke off a little slow but finished up really well, that he was well within himself,” Cox said. “He had his big move last week at Churchill. He’s doing great and he’s got the experience at Monmouth, which hopefully will be valuable.”
Cox was referring to Mandaloun’s hard-fought neck victory over Weyburn following a bit of an eventful trip in the Pegasus on June 13 in his first start since finishing second behind Medina Spirit in the Kentucky Derby.
“He had to overcome a lot in his last race at Monmouth,” Cox said. “For him to get up showed how much quality he has. I’m super happy with how he’s trained throughout the spring and summer. Hopefully we’ll finally get a Grade 1 win we can get our picture taken for.”
Cox said he remains in the dark about about where things stand regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding Medina Spirit’s victory in the Derby, and whether Mandaloun may ultimately be declared the official winner of the race.
“I hear nothing, no one tells me anything,” Cox said. “It never crosses my mind. I can’t control any of it. Right now all we are thinking about with him is to try to win the Haskell.”
Cox currently has eight horses stabled at Saratoga including Essential Quality, with another 25 or so due up from Belmont Park on Monday. Cox said Mandaloun would also likely move here after the Haskell.
Another 3-year-old of note, Keepmeinmind, also had his first local work on Saturday and, in sharp contrast to Essential Quality, zipped four furlongs in 46.19 before galloping out five panels in 59.92. Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Keepmeinmind finished seventh in the Derby, fourth in the Preakness and most recently was third, beaten just a half-length, in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby.
At Belmont Park, trainer Todd Pletcher worked several 3-year-olds Saturday, including Following Sea, who will start in next Saturday’s Haskell Invitational in what will be his first start beyond 6 1/2 furlongs.
Under Joel Rosario, Following Sea worked a half-mile in 49.43 seconds in company with the 3-year-old maiden winner Mahaamel. Following Sea was on the bridle going his opening quarter in 23.93 seconds and galloping out five furlongs in 1:02.02, six furlongs in 1:14.23 and seven-eighths in 1:27.16.
“He was full of run throughout, I thought he put in an impressive gallop-out,” Pletcher said. “The way he’s trained, the way he gallops out, suggests he’ll run farther. Obviously, it’s his first time trying it, but we like what we’re seeing.”
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Pletcher said that Dr. Jack, third to Mandaloun in the Pegasus Stakes, would not run in the Haskell, but instead would be aimed toward either the Jim Dandy on July 31 or West Virginia Derby on Aug. 7. Those races are also possible for Bourbonic, the Wood Memorial winner, who finished 13th in the Kentucky Derby and was 5th in the Belmont Stakes. On Saturday, Bourbonic worked a half-mile in 50.30 seconds in company with Texas Swing. It was his first move since the Belmont.
Malathaat, the Pletcher-trained undefeated Kentucky Oaks winner, worked a half-mile in 49.66 seconds in company with the 3-year-old colt Dynamic One. Malathaat is pointing to the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 24.
John Velazquez was aboard Malathaat, who got her last quarter in 24.43 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.41, six furlongs in 1:14.48, and seven furlongs in 1:27.70.
“If you look at her work tab, she’s had a good steady series,” Pletcher said. “The gallop-outs are impressive. He had to reach up and grab her at the half-mile pole to pull her up. Her fitness level is good.”
Dynamic One, second in the Wood and 18th in the Kentucky Derby, is pointing to the Curlin Stakes on July 30, Pletcher said.
- additional reporting by David Grening