Keeneland’s Prestigious Fall Stars Weekend plus “Win and You’re In” for Breeders’ Cup
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Godolphin homebred Essential Quality, a flashy winner on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs, headlines a field of nine 2-year-olds for the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity.
The Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, slated as the ninth race with a 5:24 p.m. post time, is a “Win and You’re In” race for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup TVG Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) to be run Nov. 6.
Essential Quality is on the same path for Godolphin that Maxfield was in 2019: win a one-turn race in September at Churchill and go straight into the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity.
Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality won that debut by 4 lengths going 6 furlongs and since has come back to work twice at Churchill Downs with the most recent being a :59.80 move over 5 furlongs last Saturday.
Luis Saez has the mount and will break from post position four.
Another impressive debuting Derby Week winner at Churchill Downs was Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimney Farm’s King Fury.
Trained by two-time Breeders’ Futurity winner Kenny McPeek, King Fury won by 2 ¾ lengths going 1 1/16 miles. King Fury will break from post position nine and be ridden by Corey Lanerie.
The field for the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity:
1. Super Stock (Tyler Gaffalione)
2. Upstriker (Joe Talamo)
3. Notary (Julien Leparoux)
4. Essential Quality (Saez)
5. Keepmeinmind (David Cohen)
6. Dixie’s Two Stents (Rafael Bejarano)
7. Calibrate (Ricardo Santana Jr.)
8. Founder (Joel Rosario)
9. King Fury (Lanerie)
All starters will carry 122 pounds.
Press Release Photo: Essential Quality. Credit: Churchill Downs/Coady
