Quality Road (USA)
March 23, 2006 – Living
Elusive Quality (USA) x Kobla (USA), by Strawberry Road (AUS)
Family 13-c
March 23, 2006 – Living
Elusive Quality (USA) x Kobla (USA), by Strawberry Road (AUS)
Family 13-c
A horse of marked quality in pedigree, physique, and performance, Quality Road was one of the best members of the 2006 foal crop in the United States. He has followed up his racing success by becoming an important sire, continuing the Gone West branch of the Mr. Prospector male line.
Race record
13 starts, 8 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$2,232,830
2009:
2010:
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds in the Intermediate category on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2009, 15 pounds below overall highweight Sea the Stars (the European Horse of the Year, who also topped the Intermediate category) but tied for third with Musket Man among American 3-year-old males on dirt, 2 pounds below American champion 3-year-old male Summer Bird and 1 pound below Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (USA-G1) winner Mine That Bird.
Rated at 128 pounds in the Mile category on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2010, 7 pounds below overall highweight Harbinger but co-highweight with multiple European Group 1 winner Makfi in the Mile category and 1 pound below American champion older male Blame among dirt runners.
As an individual
A smooth-striding, well-balanced bay horse with an excellent shoulder, a deep girth, and plenty of power behind, Quality Road was at his best in the 8-9 furlong range. He had issues with quarter cracks during his racing career, and according to trainer Jimmy Jerkins had feet that were slightly on the small side for his size and thin-walled. He stands 17 hands. Good-natured in the barn, he could be excitable and difficult when keyed up to race. He was not at his best on sloppy going.
As a stallion
Quality Road entered stud at Lane's End Farm in 2011.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Notable progeny
Abel Tasman (USA), Bellafina (USA), Bleecker Street (USA), Caledonia Road (USA), City of Light (USA), Corniche (USA), Dunbar Road (USA), Emblem Road (USA), Hootenanny (USA), Illuminant (USA), Klimt (USA), National Treasure (USA), Roadster (USA), Salty (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Hard to Justify (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Quality Road was bred and owned by Edward P. Evans (VA), who campaigned the colt after he failed to make his reserve on a $110,000 bid at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was trained by Jimmy Jerkens up until May 2009 and was transferred to Todd Pletcher after that. Quality Road entered stud in Kentucky in 2011 at Lane's End Farm.
Pedigree notes
Quality Road is inbred 4x4 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native; 4x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male; and 5x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. He is a half brother to Mt. Kobla (by Mt. Livermore), dam of multiple Japanese listed stakes winner Mount Gold (by Stay Gold). He is also a half brother to Kobla Cat (by Tale of the Cat), dam of 2016 Sanford Stakes (USA-G2) winner Bitumen (by Mineshaft) and Grade 3-placed stakes winner Meshell (by Elusive Quality).
Quality Road’s dam Kobla never raced but is a full sister to 1997 American champion 3-year-old filly Ajina, dam of stakes winner Manchurian (by Deputy Minister). Kobla is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Rob’s Spirit (by Theatrical) and to Zori (by A.P. Indy), dam of 2020 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Zulu Alpha (by Street Cry) and stakes winner Bank the Eight (by Distorted Humor).
Kobla, in turn, is out of 1991 Princess Stakes (USA-G2) winner Winglet (by Alydar), a half sister to Irish Group 3 winners Dance Bid and Northern Plain (both by Northern Dancer). Produced from 1974 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Highest Trump (by Bold Bidder), Winglet is also a half sister to stakes-placed Wasnah (by Nijinsky II), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Bahri (by Riverman) and Group 2 winner Bahhare (by Woodman), second dam of English Group 3 winner Muqbil, and third dam of Group 3 winners Muthabara, Rawaaq, Matera Sky, Raseed, and Khusoosy. In addition, Winglet is a half sister to Zepa (by Theatrical), dam of Grade 2 winner Nothing but Fun (by Dixie Union).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken at Lane's End in 2014 by Jessica Morgan. Used by permission.
Last updated: January 2, 2024
Race record
13 starts, 8 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$2,232,830
2009:
- Won Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park; new track record 1:47.72)
- Won Amsterdam Stakes (USA-G2, 6.5FD, Saratoga; new track record 1:13.45)
- 2nd Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Shadwell Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
2010:
- Won Donn Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park; new track record 1:47.49)
- Won Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Hal's Hope Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Whitney Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds in the Intermediate category on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2009, 15 pounds below overall highweight Sea the Stars (the European Horse of the Year, who also topped the Intermediate category) but tied for third with Musket Man among American 3-year-old males on dirt, 2 pounds below American champion 3-year-old male Summer Bird and 1 pound below Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (USA-G1) winner Mine That Bird.
Rated at 128 pounds in the Mile category on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2010, 7 pounds below overall highweight Harbinger but co-highweight with multiple European Group 1 winner Makfi in the Mile category and 1 pound below American champion older male Blame among dirt runners.
As an individual
A smooth-striding, well-balanced bay horse with an excellent shoulder, a deep girth, and plenty of power behind, Quality Road was at his best in the 8-9 furlong range. He had issues with quarter cracks during his racing career, and according to trainer Jimmy Jerkins had feet that were slightly on the small side for his size and thin-walled. He stands 17 hands. Good-natured in the barn, he could be excitable and difficult when keyed up to race. He was not at his best on sloppy going.
As a stallion
Quality Road entered stud at Lane's End Farm in 2011.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 4th on the North American general sire list in 2019; 6th in 2018 and 2023; 9th in 2017 and 2022.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 2nd on the American general sire list in 2022; 5th in 2019 and 2023; 7th in 2018; 10th in 2017.
Notable progeny
Abel Tasman (USA), Bellafina (USA), Bleecker Street (USA), Caledonia Road (USA), City of Light (USA), Corniche (USA), Dunbar Road (USA), Emblem Road (USA), Hootenanny (USA), Illuminant (USA), Klimt (USA), National Treasure (USA), Roadster (USA), Salty (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Hard to Justify (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Quality Road was bred and owned by Edward P. Evans (VA), who campaigned the colt after he failed to make his reserve on a $110,000 bid at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was trained by Jimmy Jerkens up until May 2009 and was transferred to Todd Pletcher after that. Quality Road entered stud in Kentucky in 2011 at Lane's End Farm.
Pedigree notes
Quality Road is inbred 4x4 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native; 4x5 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male; and 5x5 to 1957 American Horse of the Year and eight-time American champion sire Bold Ruler. He is a half brother to Mt. Kobla (by Mt. Livermore), dam of multiple Japanese listed stakes winner Mount Gold (by Stay Gold). He is also a half brother to Kobla Cat (by Tale of the Cat), dam of 2016 Sanford Stakes (USA-G2) winner Bitumen (by Mineshaft) and Grade 3-placed stakes winner Meshell (by Elusive Quality).
Quality Road’s dam Kobla never raced but is a full sister to 1997 American champion 3-year-old filly Ajina, dam of stakes winner Manchurian (by Deputy Minister). Kobla is a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Rob’s Spirit (by Theatrical) and to Zori (by A.P. Indy), dam of 2020 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Zulu Alpha (by Street Cry) and stakes winner Bank the Eight (by Distorted Humor).
Kobla, in turn, is out of 1991 Princess Stakes (USA-G2) winner Winglet (by Alydar), a half sister to Irish Group 3 winners Dance Bid and Northern Plain (both by Northern Dancer). Produced from 1974 Irish champion 2-year-old filly Highest Trump (by Bold Bidder), Winglet is also a half sister to stakes-placed Wasnah (by Nijinsky II), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Bahri (by Riverman) and Group 2 winner Bahhare (by Woodman), second dam of English Group 3 winner Muqbil, and third dam of Group 3 winners Muthabara, Rawaaq, Matera Sky, Raseed, and Khusoosy. In addition, Winglet is a half sister to Zepa (by Theatrical), dam of Grade 2 winner Nothing but Fun (by Dixie Union).
Fun facts
- Quality Road’s performance in the 2009 Amsterdam Stakes was so unexpectedly fast that his time was re-timed off hand-timing and digital review of the race film before it was confirmed that he had eclipsed a track record that had stood for 30 years by close to a full second. The previous Saratoga record of 1:14-2/5 for 6½ furlongs had been set by Topsider on August 1, 1979.
- After becoming upset and extremely difficult at the start of the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1), Quality Road had to be scratched, coming away from the gate with several bruises and cuts. He was so psychologically traumatized by the bad experience that he refused to load on an airplane to go from Santa Anita to his base in New York and had to be vanned back across the country.
Photo credit
Photo taken at Lane's End in 2014 by Jessica Morgan. Used by permission.
Last updated: January 2, 2024