Expert Pick of the Week: Blue Grass Stakes

Mar 31, 2021 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Champion Essential Quality will lead a field of nine sophomores postward in the $800,000 Blue Grass S. (G2) at Keeneland on Saturday. The 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series endeavor will reward the top-four finishers with qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 basis towards a Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on May 1. And the 1 1/8-mile contest will go through the formidable favorite.

Trained by Brad Cox, the son of Tapit is unblemished from four career starts to date, led by tallies in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and Breeders’ Futurity (G1), both of which came on the Keeneland main surface. In his three-year-old debut, the Godolphin homebred picked up right where he left off in posting a superb, 4 1/4-length victory in the Southwest S. (G3) at Oaklawn Park.

Essential Quality has posted a trio of fine morning drills in the interim and appears to be coming up to another big performance over a strip that he thrives upon. The gray has a versatile running style, and in a field mostly void of early foot, he will likely receive a dream trip while forwardly placed from the opening bell. Luis Saez will guide the standout colt, who will cement his status as a leading Kentucky Derby (G1) contender with another stylish showing on Saturday.

I think that the race is for second and will tab the consistently very good Highly Motivated from the barn of Chad Brown for runner-up honors. The bay son of Into Mischief has performed well in each of his four lifetime tries to date, including a fine tally in the Nyquist S. on this oval in his two-year-old finale.

Highly Motivated kicked off his three-year-old campaign with a creditable third in the Gotham S. (G3), and he could be any kind while making his initial effort going around two turns. The Kentucky-bred bay will be forwardly placed in the paceless event under the guidance of regular rider Javier Castellano.

An exacta with #4 Essential Quality on top of #3 Highly Motivated is the Best Bet of the Week.