Quality Road (Elusive Quality), kept off the track since quarter cracks prevented him from taking his chance in this year's Triple Crown races, returned to winning ways in truly magnificent style on August 3 with a record-breaking performance in the G2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga.
Despite a slight stumble at the start, Quality Road was soon in touch racing in fourth position. Taken five wide around the turn by John Velazquez, the three-year-old colt showed tremendous acceleration down the stretch, powering home to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths. His time for the six and a half furlongs of 1:13.45 was almost a second faster than the previous track record, which was set back in 1979.
Todd Pletcher’s charge could now return later this month in the G1 Travers, where he could face Medaglia d'Oro’s outstanding daughter Rachel Alexandra – six-length winner of the G1 Haskell Invitational on Sunday.
