Chopsticks closed strongly on debut at Churchill Downs to become the first winner for her exciting freshman sire, Essential Quality, on Friday, 27 June.
Making her career debut in the six-furlong dirt maiden special weight – the same track and distance that her sire won on debut over as a juvenile – Chopsticks broke alertly from post 8 and was in midpack down the backside. She began to gain ground on the two frontrunners around the turn before closing with enthusiasm through the stretch to win by three lengths in a final time of 1:10.21. She is trained by Brad Cox, who also trained her sire.
A $300,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by Selective, Chopsticks was bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall. She is out of Stakes winner and G2-placed Miss Southern Miss (by More Than Ready), a daughter of multiple Stakes winner Miss Atlantic City (by Stormy Atlantic).
Like his first winner, Essential Quality won on debut as a two-year-old going six furlongs on the dirt at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox. He then won the G1 Breeders’ Futurity in his second start before finishing off an undefeated campaign in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. As a three-year-old, he captured the G1 Belmont Stakes, becoming the only Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner ever to take the Belmont, and went on to win the G1 Travers at Saratoga. Tapit's all-time leading money-earner, he is only the seventh colt in the 53-year history of the Eclipse Awards to be named Champion at both two and three.
Essential Quality stands at Jonabell Farm for $50,000 stands and nurses.
