Kentucky Derby: Essential Quality seeks six-timer in America's greatest race

11.57 Churchill Downs
Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) | 1m2f | 3yo, dirt | Sky

Euphoria, elation, popularity and hope awaits the winning connections of the 147th Kentucky Derby, America's greatest race and the first leg of the Triple Crown. But who will cross the line first?

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. He has everything you desire in a future Kentucky Derby winner – aside from the speed figures.

Aside from the numbers, finding holes in his form is arduous. Last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner has been targeted at a Triple Crown campaign this season and readily put away six rivals in the Southwest Stakes on a sloppy track at Oaklawn on his return.

He looked beaten in the Blue Grass when last seen, but his enviable drive and determination allowed him to run down pacesetter and reopposing rival Highly Motivated in the final 100 yards. His trackwork in the build-up has been impressive, too.

Churchill Downs: home of the Kentucky DerbyCredit: Edward Whitaker

A middle draw in gate 14 may look worse than it is given he has front-runners situated outside. They include Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World, the aforementioned Highly Motivated and eyecatching grey Soup And Sandwich.

Rock Your World, who boasts the top speed figure in the race, carries the hopes of west coast trainer John Sadler, who ambitiously switched the son of Candy Ride from turf to dirt last time and was rewarded with an all-the-way success. A similar performance would make him a live player, though the want to dominate may be scrapped given a much tougher speed test in this event.

Bob Baffert, who shares the record for training the most Kentucky Derby winners (six) and was successful last year with Authentic, is usually represented in numbers. However, injuries to ante-post favourites Life Is Good and Concert Tour means he is down to his third-string, Medina Spirit.

Although a consistent colt, he appears to lack the class edge of the protagonists, though will be forwardly placed in a race that often favours early speed types.

The Florida Derby, which is run at Gulfstream Park in March, has proved the best trial for the 'Run for the Roses' in recent years and the Todd Pletcher-trained Known Agenda will attempt to prove his worth, though only one horse has won from gate one since 1964.

Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie and also-rans Mandaloun and O Besos have been the recipients of positive training reviews in the last week, while Bourbonic, Dynamic One and Brooklyn Strong carry the weight of New York on their shoulders.

The fastest two minutes of sport is nearly here. Strap in, a champion is about to be crowned in Kentucky.

Complaint dismissed

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) dismissed a complaint by human rights activists to stop Essential Quality, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, from running in the Kentucky Derby.

Executive director Marc Guilfoyle said the complaint, in relation to the situation concerning Sheikh Mohammed’s daughter, Princess Latifa, did not “articulate a violation of KHRC regulations.”

Expert verdict

There is no doubt that Essential Quality is the horse to beat, but he's vulnerable on figures and you're not getting any value at around 5-2. I would rather oppose him with , a typical Todd Pletcher-trained improver who exits the best trial for this race and has the assistance of leading rider Irad Ortiz, and , who has been catching the eye of clockwatchers over the last two weeks and is fancied to bounce back from his Louisiana Derby disappointment.
Tom Collins

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