Essential Quality, Knicks Go both breeze at Churchill Downs

It was another busy Saturday morning beneath the Twin Spires with several of the nation’s top horses recording published workouts including Godolphin’s recent Travers Stakes (G1) winner Essential Quality, who cruised an easy half-mile in 50.6.

With his regular exercise rider Edvin Vargas in the irons, Essential Quality was one of the first horses to work over the track at 5:30 a.m. EDT. The gray son of Tapit breezed solo and will likely have five more works prior to competing in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.

Saturday’s move was Essential Quality’s second breeze following his victory in last month’s $1.25 million Travers. Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality is 8-for-9 lifetime with earnings of $4,215,144.

Two hours later, Cox’s other Breeders’ Cup Classic hopeful, Knicks Go, clipped five furlongs in 1:00.8 with Vargas aboard. Owned by Korea Racing Authority, the multiple Grade 1 winner is likely to be the heavy favorite in next Saturday’s $400,000 Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs.

“These are two extremely talented horses that we have in our barn,” Cox said. “They’ve both accomplished a lot this year and we’re looking forward to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Juddmonte’s possible $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff contender Bonny South worked a sharp five furlongs in 59.4 in company with maiden winner Page One. The Grade 2 winner is likely to make her next start in the $500,000 Spinster (G1) on Oct. 10 at Keeneland, according to Cox.