A trio of Brad Cox-trained juveniles headed towards the 'Future Stars Friday' Breeders' Cup program at Keeneland Nov. 6, got in their final major moves at soggy Churchill Downs Friday morning.
The first of the threesome at 9 a.m. was Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit), who figures the second choice in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile on the strength of his 3 1/4-length victory in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 3. The hombred son of Grade III-placed Delightful Quality (Elusive Quality) worked five furlongs outside of his MGSW stablemate Mr. Misunderstood (Archarcharch) in 1:01, with early fractions of :12 flat and :24 1/5, according to track clocker John Nichols.
“Essential Quality is growing up well. He's continuing to learn and I'm very pleased with how he's progressing,” said Cox, who has won three Breeders 'Cup races in the last two years. “He has a ton of raw talent which he's shown in both of his starts. We added blinkers to him over the summer to help him focus a little bit more and they've really helped. We have experience around two turns and we have experience at Keeneland, which is always helpful. It's 1 1/16 miles, so it's a short stretch. You need to be in position when you turn for home.”
Next to hit the track was Abarta (Into Mischief), who completed the exacta for his sire behind 'Rising Star' Mutasaabeq in the GII Bourbon S. at Keeneland Oct. 4. Prepping for the Juvenile Turf, the $200,000 Keeneland September graduate breezed a half-mile in :47.60 outside of SW & GSP Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in splits of :11.60, :23.80 and :35 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.40.
“Abarta had a really nice late kick in the Bourbon to run second,” Cox said. “He didn't have the best of trips but really showed some adversity that afternoon. I think it's good he has already run well over that course.”
Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) earned her 'Rising Star' at first asking at Churchill Sept. 1 and validated that effort with another front-running success in the GII JP Morgan Chase Jessamine S. in Lexington Oct. 7. Purchased for 280,000gns out of last year's Tattersalls October sale, the bay drilled a half in :48.60 (:24.40, :36.80), starting her work two lengths behind the unraced Palm Cottage (American Pharoah).
“Aunt Pearl acted like she could really run at the start,” Cox commented. “The good ones kind of do that–they'll let you know there is a lot of talent there. Given the pedigree, we were optimistic she'd be able to carry her speed around two turns. We thought about taking her to Saratoga over the summer, but when Churchill's condition book came out I thought it might be better to keep her at home. It's turned out really well so far.”
Other Breeders' Cup-bound workers at Churchill included:
- Girl Daddy (Uncle Mo, Juvenile fillies), 4f in :48.20
- Sittin On Go (Brody's Cause, Juvenile), 4f in :47.40
- Smiley Sobotka (Brody's Cause, Juvenile), 4f in :47.60
- Spanish Loveaffair (Karakontie {Jpn}), Juvenile Fillies Turf, 4f in :48.60
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