Essential Quality tops field of nine in Blue Grass

Mar 30, 2021 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Undefeated juvenile champion Essential Quality will look to maintain
his position as current favorite for the May 1 Kentucky Derby (G1) when he turns
in his final prep for the classic in Saturday's $800,000 Blue Grass S. (G2) at
Keeneland.

Twice a winner over the Keeneland strip last fall, in the Breeders' Futurity
(G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Essential Quality enters off a dominating
display in the Feb. 27 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn, which the gray son of Tapit
won by 4 1/4 lengths in the slop. Trainer Brad Cox marvels at the colt's ability
and versatility thus far over a range of distances.

'I just think it speaks volumes to actually how good he is and how much
talent he has. We're in a good spot with him. He's just a very good horse,' Cox
said.

Keepmeinmind, who placed in both the Breeders' Futurity and Breeders'
Cup Juvenile before taking the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), will attempt to
rebound from a sub-par performance in the Rebel (G2), in which he finished a
non-threatening sixth.

Highly Motivated, who captured the 6 1/2-furlong Nyquist S. at
Keeneland on Breeders' Cup weekend, was off awkwardly in the March 6 Gotham (G3)
and did not threaten the dueling pair of Weyburn and Crowded Trade. The Blue
Grass will mark of the son of Into Mischief's first attempt around two turns.

Trainer Todd Pletcher, a three-time winner of the Blue Grass, sends out the
relatively inexperienced Untreated. Sixth to eventual Grade 3 winner
Candy Man Rocket in his debut in January, the Nyquist rebounded with a dominant
maiden score at Tampa Bay Downs in his first start for Team Valor.

'We know he's behind the eight-ball in terms of experience and seasoning, but
he can run 1 1/4 miles. The farther he goes, the more he likes it.' Pletcher
said. 'If the horse was a speed horse, I wouldn't do it. But a horse like this,
a come-from-behind horse who can pick up horses, I feel it's worth trying him
here.'

Rombauer, fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, eked out a
come-from-behind win in the El Camino Real Derby over Tapeta at Golden Gate
Fields in mid-February. Hidden Stash enters off a narrow second-place
finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), while John Battaglia Memorial winner Hush
of a Storm scratched from last week's Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) to point for
this race instead.

The Blue Grass offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points of 100-40-20-10 to the
top four finishers. It can be watched and wagered on at
TwinSpires.com.