Essential Wild Cat held on to win a 5.5-furlong dirt maiden special weight on debut at Belterra on Friday, September 26, becoming the seventh first-crop winner for his freshman sire, Essential Quality.
Essential Wild Cat broke a step slowly but moved up to sit midpack down the backstretch, made a three-wide move around the turn and took command at the top of the stretch, before holding off late bids from two challengers to keep his nose in front at the wire.
Bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farm, Essential Wild Cat is out of the seven-time Stakes winner and G3-placed K P Wildcat (by Include) and is a half-brother to two-time Stakes winner Starship Impulsive.
In addition to Essential Wild Cat, dual Champion Essential Quality is also the sire of the undefeated filly Chopsticks, winner of the Ellis Park Debutante in her second start, and Aye Eye, who rocketed from last-to-first to win his career debut at Saratoga in August.
