Edward Evans’ homebred QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality), denied the opportunity
to compete in the Triple Crown due to a series of quarter-crack issues, made a
successful return to the races in Monday’s $150,000
Amsterdam S. (G2) at Saratoga, and in the process arguably regained his
position as the nation’s leading three-year-old colt following the weekend
losses of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird (Birdstone) and Belmont S.
(G1) winner Summer Bird (Birdstone). Under a confident ride by John Velazquez,
Quality Road recovered from a slight stumble at the start to settle in fourth
behind a solid early pace. Making a steady advancement around the far turn,
Velazquez took the overland route with the colt to reach contention turning for
home, kept out in the middle of the stretch through the lane, and comfortably
held off a quality field to register a 2 1/4-length triumph in track-record time
of 1:13 2/5 for 6 1/2 furlongs on the fast going, which was only two-fifths of a
second off the world record for the distance on dirt.
The near 4-5 favorite, Quality Road returned $3.50, $2.40 and $2.20. Capt.
Candyman Can (Candy Ride [Arg]), the 9-2 third choice, was forced to rally
outside the winner turning for home, angled inside that one in the final
furlong, but proved only second best by four lengths. He gave back $3.90 and
$3.20 while completing the $11.40 exacta. Captain Cherokee (Sir Cherokee), the
31-1 longest shot, overtook the dueling pair of Custom for Carlos (More Than
Ready) and Everyday Heroes (Awesome Again), who ripped through fractions of :22
2/5 and :44 4/5, to finish third and paid $5.40. The 4-6-5 trifecta was worth
$115.50. Custom for Carlos was a length behind in fourth and was trailed home by
Everyday Heroes and Cabaret Cowboy (Speightstown).
“Any time you have a horse with this type of potential you want him to run
well,” said trainer Todd Pletcher, who was saddling the colt for the first time
and was potentially using this race as a prep for the August 29 Travers S. (G1).
“With a stable our size, wherever (Rachel Alexandra [Medaglia d’Oro]) runs,
we’re going to probably wind up facing her. We might as well do it with one of
our best horses.”
An impressive debut winner at Aqueduct in late November for trainer Jimmy
Jerkens, Quality Road finished second to Theregoesjojo (Brahms) when making his
2009 bow in a seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream on January 10. He reversed
that outcome in the nine-furlong Fountain of Youth S. (G2) and then punched his
ticket to Louisville with a track-record performance in the Florida Derby (G1).
A quarter-crack in his right hind foot was discovered by Jerkens as the colt
returned to the winner’s circle after that race, however, and, after another
quarter-crack developed in his right front hoof, the decision was made to
withdraw the colt’s name from consideration on the Monday before the Kentucky
Derby. Slow to heal, Quality Road was forced to miss the entire Triple Crown
series and was ultimately moved to the Pletcher barn in mid-June. Quality Road’s
record now stands at 5-4-1-0, $722,830.
Out of the Strawberry Road (Aus) mare Kobla, the Virginia-bred has an unnamed
yearling half-sister by Tale of the Cat. Kobla is a full sister to 1997 champion
three-year-old filly and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) heroine Ajina, an earner of
more than $1.3 million. She also counts multiple Grade 3 victor Rob’s Spirit
(Theatrical [Ire]) as a half-brother. Quality Road’s third dam is Irish champion
Highest Trump (Bold Bidder), whose descendants include multiple English Group 1
winner and highweight Bahri (Riverman).