"Essential Quality is a deserving favorite," trainer Todd Pletcher said, "but I think it's a wide-open race." “He ran a huge race. Essential Quality was installed as the early 2-1 favourite for Saturday's Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville after drawing the 14th gate for the Run for the Roses on Wednesday. “Listen, some people may not agree with that,” Cox said. However, it could be a while before he gets back on a track. [15] Essential Quality ran next in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 3, where he went off as the 1-2 favorite in a field of nine that was "short on pace", meaning there were … After the race, Essential Quality ranked third on the leaderboard for the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby. Cox’s case was bolstered by a chart from Trakus Racing, which showed Luis Sáez’s bumpy start and wide trip forced Essential Quality to race 68 feet farther than John Velázquez on Medina Spirit to finish only a length behind in fourth. “To me, it's Essential Quality's race,” said the six-time Derby winner, who will attempt to win a record-breaking seventh with a rare long shot, 15-1 Medina Spirit. He has everything you desire in a future Kentucky Derby winner – aside from the speed figures. Even Baffert agrees. 2021 Kentucky Derby Marks Return to May, Some Spectators Back For Live Race By Margaret Ransom Champion Essential Quality will break from position 14 for Saturday’s 147th edition of … This will be the first time a Godolphin-owned colt has started favorite for the race. ESSENTIAL QUALITY (USA) gr. The 2-1 morning line favourite is champion two-year-old colt Essential Quality, who seeks a super sixth successive strike and his second victory at Churchill Downs for 41-year-old trainer Brad Cox and Dubai World Cup-winning rider Luis Saez. (Reuters) - Essential Quality was installed as the early 2-1 favourite for Saturday's Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville after drawing the 14th gate for … Godolphin has run 11 horses in the Derby. Essential Quality’s Next Race Hasn’t Been Decided. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality is considered one of the early favorites to win the 2021 Kentucky Derby after winning the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes over the weekend, which kept him unbeaten in four starts. C, 2018 {1-x} DP = 5-12-14-1-0 (32) DI = 3.00 CD = 0.66 - 5 Starts, 5 Wins, 0 Places, 0 Shows Career Earnings: $2,265,144 Essential Quality was a second Champion Two-Year Old for Sheikh Mohammed’s operation – the first was Midshipman in 2008 - and their third Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner after Vale Of York in 2009 and Midshipman. Godolphin's undefeated $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) winner Essential Quality is the 10-1 individual favorite among 24 betting interests in … Pletcher, a two-time Derby winner, saddles four starters, led by 6-1 shot Known Agenda.