Essential Quality (USA)
April 9, 2018 – Living
Tapit (USA) x Delightful Quality (USA), by Elusive Quality (USA)
Family 1-x
April 9, 2018 – Living
Tapit (USA) x Delightful Quality (USA), by Elusive Quality (USA)
Family 1-x
Essential Quality had all the attributes of a top racing prospect from birth, and he lived up to his pedigree and conformation on the track. He was one of those horses who seldom did much more than enough to win, and he lacked the fluent change of pace that marks the very best of the best. He also was his own worst enemy at times, getting off to poor starts. Nonetheless, he was consistent and genuine, winning eight of his 10 starts while always racing in the best of company. An unquestioned champion at 2, he probably received some assistance in the championship voting at 3 from the drug scandal hanging over the eventually disqualified Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1) winner Medina Spirit, who outfinished him in both their meetings, but on overall race record he was the top performer of his crop.
Race record
10 starts, 8 wins, 0 seconds, 2 thirds, US$4,905,144
2020:
2021:
Honors
Assessments
Earned a rating of 123 pounds in both the Intermediate and Long categories on the 2021 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 6 pounds below overall highweight Knicks Go (who earned this rating in the Intermediate category) and 1 pound below Flightline, Life Is Good, and Medina Spirit, who were the joint highweights among 3-year-olds on dirt.
As an individual
A smoothly-made gray horse, Essential Quality had a powerful stride and was a very determined competitor. He handled both fast and sloppy surfaces well. He typically came from off the pace but could press a slow early pace.
As a stallion
Essential Quality entered stud in 2022.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Essential Quality raced as a homebred for the Maktoum family’s Godolphin Racing. He was trained by Brad Cox. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2022 at Jonabell Farm.
Pedigree notes
Essential Quality is inbred 4x4 to 1981 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Fappiano and 4x5x4x5 to Fappiano’s sire, two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector. He is also inbred 5x5x5 to Northern Dancer and 5x5 to Secretariat and In Reality. He is the fourth foal of Grade 3-placed Delightful Quality, whose half sister Folklore (by Tiznow) is the American champion 2-year-old filly of 2005 and the second dam of three-time Japanese champion Contrail. Delightful Quality is also a half sister to listed stakes winner Divided Attention (by A.P. Indy) and to Amusing Plan (by Pleasantly Perfect), dam of Korean listed stakes winner Tiz Plan (by Tiznow).
Delightful Quality and her siblings are out of the unraced Storm Cat mare Contrive, whose full sister Queen’s Lady is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Biddy Duke. Contrive is also a half sister to Kew Garden (by Seattle Slew), dam of listed stakes winner Queens Plaza (by Forestry) and second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Lord Alex, and to Never a No Hitter (by Kris S.), dam of 2009 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2) winner Tizahit (by Tiznow). In addition, Contrive is a half sister to Stormy Antics (by Stormy Atlantic), dam of stakes winner Student Body (by Colonel John).
Contrive, in turn, is out of 1993 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (USA-G3) winner Jeano (by Fappiano), whose dam Basie (by In Reality) won the 1985 Delaware Handicap (USA-G1). Basie was the best of four stakes winners produced from Stolen Base, a Herbager granddaughter of Ogden Phipps’ foundation mare Striking.
Books and media
Video footage of many of Essential Quality’s races can be seen as part of his stallion profile at Darley America (https://www.darleyamerica.com/stallions/our-stallions/essential-quality).
Last updated: August 17, 2024
Race record
10 starts, 8 wins, 0 seconds, 2 thirds, US$4,905,144
2020:
- Won TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- Won Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
2021:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Runhappy Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Southwest Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Oaklawn Park)
- 3rd Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs; from fourth by disqualification of first-place Medina Spirit)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2020)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2021)
- Kentucky-bred Horse of the Year (2021)
- Kentucky-bred champion 2-year-old male (2020)
- Kentucky-bred champion 3-year-old male (2021)
Assessments
Earned a rating of 123 pounds in both the Intermediate and Long categories on the 2021 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 6 pounds below overall highweight Knicks Go (who earned this rating in the Intermediate category) and 1 pound below Flightline, Life Is Good, and Medina Spirit, who were the joint highweights among 3-year-olds on dirt.
As an individual
A smoothly-made gray horse, Essential Quality had a powerful stride and was a very determined competitor. He handled both fast and sloppy surfaces well. He typically came from off the pace but could press a slow early pace.
As a stallion
Essential Quality entered stud in 2022.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Essential Quality raced as a homebred for the Maktoum family’s Godolphin Racing. He was trained by Brad Cox. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2022 at Jonabell Farm.
Pedigree notes
Essential Quality is inbred 4x4 to 1981 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Fappiano and 4x5x4x5 to Fappiano’s sire, two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector. He is also inbred 5x5x5 to Northern Dancer and 5x5 to Secretariat and In Reality. He is the fourth foal of Grade 3-placed Delightful Quality, whose half sister Folklore (by Tiznow) is the American champion 2-year-old filly of 2005 and the second dam of three-time Japanese champion Contrail. Delightful Quality is also a half sister to listed stakes winner Divided Attention (by A.P. Indy) and to Amusing Plan (by Pleasantly Perfect), dam of Korean listed stakes winner Tiz Plan (by Tiznow).
Delightful Quality and her siblings are out of the unraced Storm Cat mare Contrive, whose full sister Queen’s Lady is the second dam of Grade 3 winner Biddy Duke. Contrive is also a half sister to Kew Garden (by Seattle Slew), dam of listed stakes winner Queens Plaza (by Forestry) and second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Lord Alex, and to Never a No Hitter (by Kris S.), dam of 2009 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2) winner Tizahit (by Tiznow). In addition, Contrive is a half sister to Stormy Antics (by Stormy Atlantic), dam of stakes winner Student Body (by Colonel John).
Contrive, in turn, is out of 1993 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (USA-G3) winner Jeano (by Fappiano), whose dam Basie (by In Reality) won the 1985 Delaware Handicap (USA-G1). Basie was the best of four stakes winners produced from Stolen Base, a Herbager granddaughter of Ogden Phipps’ foundation mare Striking.
Books and media
Video footage of many of Essential Quality’s races can be seen as part of his stallion profile at Darley America (https://www.darleyamerica.com/stallions/our-stallions/essential-quality).
Last updated: August 17, 2024