Evans was recognized by the New York Turf Writers Association in 2002 and has held leading owner titles at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga Springs. A devoted breeder of 80 or so mares a year, his breeding program has produced a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner in Horse of the Year Saint Liam, and Irish Champion two-year-old Minstrella. Even so, when asked how he feels about having a derby horse, Evans said, “It is a surprise for everybody. It comes on a bit early in their life.”
Nurtured by trainer Jimmy Jerkins, Quality Road raced just once at two on Remsen Day at Aqueduct. The ease in which he sailed six-and a half furlongs gate-to-wire - in front and in-hand – was impressive. Six weeks later, the handsome bay was the favorite against winners. Unfortunately, he missed the break momentarily and rushed to challenge the pace through seven panels; only to grudgingly give way to Theregoesjojo.
He turned tables on Theregoesjojo next out and avenged his only loss with a Stakes win in the G2 Fountain of Youth. In so doing, journeyman John Velasquez tutored his prodigy in the opening eighth-of-a-mile and requested patience. He rewarded the colt with loose reins, allowing him to breathe easily through a half in: 45.55, and three-quarters in 1:09.40. A lesson and a win: they concluded the one-turn mile four and a half lengths in front. The final time of 1:35.01 earned him a brilliant Beyer rating of 113.
“He is very fast,” Evans explained. “He’s nearly 17 hands - a very big horse. He is quick in a race. When the jockey asks him, he responds. That is remarkable - a remarkable set of abilities for a horse that looks like he can go long distances, hopefully.”
In the nine furlong, $750,000 G1 Florida Derby, similar strategy was used to test his mettle around two turns. When called upon at the quarter pole, Quality Road answered with a powerful burst to hold off highly regarded Dunkirk’s Quest to stay perfect and keep any derby aspirations alive. Quality Road’s time of 1:47.72, toppled Brass Hat’s track record set in the 2006 Donn H.
It is perhaps only fitting that the immortal Virginia-bred Triple Crown winner Secretariat is present in Quality Road’s pedigree by way of Elusive Quality’s sire Gone West. Evans’ latest star was foaled and raised at his 3,000 acre, state-of the-art nursery in Casanova, Virginia.
“I have lived in New York most of my life,” said Evans. “After Harvard Business School, I worked in Manhattan and for the last forty years, I have been a weekly commuter between Casanova and Manhattan.”
Evans, who earned a B.A. from Yale University and received his M.B.A. in business from Harvard, enjoys the contrast. “I like to leave the city behind me. For me, from Manhattan, Virginia is closer than Kentucky. It is beautiful country. It is very satisfying to go down there on the weekends.”
Spring Hill Farm is tucked into a serene fox hunting landscape away from the hustle of the thoroughfares leading to Washington D.C. – an hour to the east. The tiny town is recognizable by a lone post office that sits adjacent to railway tracks and an intersection of two scenic roads. Several dairy farms, a few residences and Poplar Springs Bed and Breakfast help to populate the town. This region of undulating fields, along the corridor of the Old Dominion battlefields is considered hallowed ground to Civil War and presidential historians.
Evans pointed out the provenance of the commonwealth, “Most of the farms raised horses. This is where the Thoroughbred horse business was started in America.” Records of the first Thoroughbreds imported from England to Colonial Virginia dates back to 1730. English racer Diomed could be considered the father of the American Thoroughbred.
Evans’ father, Thomas Mellon Evans, bred and raced Champion Pleasant Colony. The 1981 Derby/Preakness hero was foaled at Buckland Farm located ten miles to the north. Preceded by Reigh Count, Sea Hero, and Secretariat, Quality Road is in position become the fifth Virginia-bred to win the Derby.
Mark Deane, the Field Director of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association was “blown away” when he saw Quality Road at Jerkins’ Belmont barn on April 17. The colt breezed six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 and galloped out in just under 1:26. Deane said, “I was so impressed with his attitude. For a big horse, he is quiet as a puppy and wastes no energy.”
Evans primarily breeds to race. “We do our best,” he said. “I suppose if we really wanted to be commercial we would have been in Lexington.”
Evans adheres to high standards at Spring Hill Farm to obtain the greatest success from his racehorses. From stallion and mare selection, to growth monitoring and feed programs, Evans works closely with farm manager Chris Baker with optimal results. Evans has been honored by the Virginia Thoroughbred Association as Leading Breeder numerous times in consecutive years. The rolling hills and huge pastures of the farm allow for plenty of room to run.
In 1999, Evans pushed the bidding at Keeneland past a million dollars to acquire Kobla, an attractive yet considerably less accomplished runner than her sister, Champion three-year-old filly Ajina – winner of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, G1 Coaching Club American Oaks, and the G1 Mother Goose. Their globetrotting sire, Strawberry Road was one of the hardest campaigned horses in modern history. In 1983, he was named Horse of the Year in his native Australia before contesting the best turf horses in the world at ten to twelve furlongs. Strawberry Road was best remembered by American racing fans when caught late by rail-skimming Pebbles in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Although Evans doesn’t following any particular theories of speed when planning crosses for his mares, “In the case [of Kobla] with Strawberry Road, you certainly want to put speed,” he said.
“Elusive Quality was very popular. He had that big beginning.” Evans was referring to his 14% stakes winners and 20% stakes horses in his first crop of 76 foals. His G1 winner Elusive City was considered the fastest juvenile in the summer of 2002 in France and was named Champion male. It was off the heels of Smarty Jones’ undefeated run through Kentucky Derby and Preakness however, that Kobla was sent to Darley to be bred.
Should Quality Road take roses in Louisville, he will be the second son of Elusive Quality to take America’s most visible prize. Smarty Jones, from only his second crop, became a dual classic winner in 2004.
Since 1998, the Darley stallions have produced four Kentucky Derby winners: Quiet American’s son Real Quiet came within a nose of a Triple Crown; Giacomo honored his sire Holy Bull with a powerful rally; and Street Cry’s Street Sense and stallion mate Hard Spun completed the exacta in 2007.
According to Baker, “The best is yet to come.”
