Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Essential Quality

Essential Quality
Tapit – Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality
Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin

Tapit, among the most successful sires in modern classic history, has three individuals in the first Derby Watch Top 20 list. That trio is led by Godolphin’s homebred Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and Eclipse Award champion Essential Quality, already a multiple Grade 1 winner around two turns.

Tapit is the sire of Belmont Stakes winners Tonalist (2014), Creator (2016), and Tapwrit (2017). He is the only sire in the modern history of the 1 1/2-mile race represented by that many winners. Tapit also is the sire of Tacitus, elevated to third in the 2019 Kentucky Derby before finishing second in the Belmont; 2015 Preakness third Divining Rod; 2015 Belmont runner-up Frosted; and Belmont third-place finishers Lani (2016) and Hofburg (2018).

Tapit, also the sire of 2014 Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable, was further evidenced as a source of classic stamina via his sons last year. Constitution is the sire of Tiz the Law, winner of the Belmont, last year shortened to 1 1/8 miles. Tiz the Law also won the Travers Stakes at 1 1/4 miles and finished second in the Kentucky Derby. Tapiture, another son of Tapit, was represented by Preakness third-place finisher Jesus’ Team.

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Essential Quality is the first winner out of Delightful Quality, a consistent racemare who was on the board in 12 of 13 starts and placed in seven stakes on the NYRA circuit. All her stakes efforts came at six or seven furlongs, but she is the outlier in a family geared toward stamina. Delightful Quality is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and champion Folklore, a multiple Grade 1 winner at 1 1/16 miles, albeit around the one-turn configuration at Belmont. Folklore’s daughter Rhodochrosite is the dam of 2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail, winner of 7 of 8 career starts, all at distances between 1 1/8 miles and 1 7/8 miles.

Delightful Quality’s second and third dams are multiple graded stakes winner Jeano, a winner at distances from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles, and Basie, winner of the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap at 1 1/4 miles. Basie is a half-sister to Dont Worry Bout Me, the granddam of 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner and champion Smarty Jones.