Final 12 months’s TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Introduced by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) at Keeneland proved to be a preview of the spring classics and the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
In a crop that has seen its type keep it up the observe, final 12 months’s Juvenile winner and champion 2-year-old male Essential Quality has followed with victories this year in the Belmont Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and Runhappy Travers (G1) stakes. Last year’s Juvenile runner-up, Hot Rod Charlie , earned placings in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and in the Belmont. In the summer he added a victory in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1).
Following their success last fall, this spring, and this summer, the two accomplished 3-year-olds will try to add the biggest of autumn victories in the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar. Brad Cox, who situations Important High quality, and Doug O’Neill, who situations Scorching Rod Charlie, talked about their horses’ success throughout a Breeders’ Cup press convention Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Cox stated it has been spectacular to observe Important High quality safe the championship final 12 months and proceed to clear every hurdle this 12 months in a 3-year-old season that began with a victory within the Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 27 at Oaklawn Park. The Breeders’ Cup Basic, the place he’s the 3-1 second-choice on the morning line, will likely be his seventh begin of the 12 months.
“It is very uncommon,” Cox stated of Important High quality having sufficient precociousness to excel at 2, the sturdiness to compete in two of the three spring classics, after which proceed to excel in the summertime and into the autumn. “He type of stamped himself from the start as very particular. As a 2-year-old our purpose was to get into the Breeders’ Cup and that labored out nicely. He deserved to be 2-year-old champion and was.”
Cox famous that the horse then type of plotted his personal course by bouncing out of races.
“Then we deliberate to get him to the Kentucky Derby and he bought there. He ran a profitable race however we did not have the racing luck that day. Then we quick ahead, and our subsequent plan was attempting to get to the Travers. Actually, he was doing so nicely out of the Derby, I believed we have been going to have bother retaining his toes on the bottom till the Travers. So we determined to go to Belmont and he handed that take a look at, the Check of a Champion. So he is had a incredible 12 months. I imply, he is had a incredible profession.”
If Important High quality can safe victory Saturday, he’ll be the primary Juvenile winner to go on and win the Basic. Cox believes that accomplishment would safe the 3-year-old son of Tapit a lofty spot in terms of his legacy.
“If he wins the Classic, I think we would have to look at him as one of the better horses in the last 25 years,” Cox said. “I mean, this is serious. These are serious records he’s putting together.”
Hot Rod Charlie gallops Nov. 2 at Del Mar
O’Neill made some history with 2015 Juvenile winner Nyquist , who would become the second Juvenile winner to land the Kentucky Derby (Street Sense was the first in 2006-07).
“I think a lot of people are just being patient,” O’Neill said of the handling of the talented 2-year-olds of 2020. “I think that patience has enabled these horses like Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie and some of these others as well.”
Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie finish 1-2 in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland
Fourth-place 2020 Juvenile finisher Jackie’s Warrior has been pointed toward sprinting this season and has responded with four graded stakes wins, including the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. He is the 6-5 morning-line favourite for the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Dash (G1).
Whereas they will not be competing within the Breeders’ Cup, final 12 months’s third-place Juvenile finisher, Keepmeinmind , has continued to be a factor in top races, finishing fourth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Travers. The fifth-places finisher in the 2020 Juvenile? That would be Preakness winner Rombauer .
“That Juvenile is always a strong race,” O’Neill said. “So if you’re involved in that, you have a pretty good chance of having a tremendous 3-year-old season.”
