Dual champion and classic winner Essential Quality was represented by his first winner June 27 when 2-year-old filly Chopsticks won a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs in her career debut.
Trained by Brad Cox, who also trained Essential Quality, Chopsticks broke from the 5 post and raced in the three path around the turn. Moved out in upper stretch, the filly rallied past the leaders at the sixteenth pole and drew off to win by three lengths for owner Selective. Final time for six furlongs on the dirt track rated fast was 1:10.21.
Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Chopsticks was purchased by Cary Bloodstock, agent for Selective, for $300,000 from the Machmer Hall consignment to the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
A Godolphin homebred, Essential Quality won 8 of 10 career starts, with two third-place finishes, and earned $4.9 million. As a 2-year-old, the son of Tapit was undefeated in three starts, including the 2020 Breeders' Futurity (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), both at Keeneland, and was honored as champion 2-year-old male.
At age 3, Essential Quality won the Southwest Stakes (G3) and Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and went to Churchill Downs as favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1). He finished fourth in the classic, later promoted to third following the disqualification of first-place finisher Medina Spirit. Essential Quality skipped the Preakness Stakes (G1) and rebounded to win the Belmont Stakes (G1), Travers Stakes (G1), and Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), closing out his career when third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). He was named champion 3-year-old male of 2021.
Essential Quality stands at Darley near Lexington, where his 2025 fee is $50,000.
