Chopsticks remained undefeated and became a new Stakes winner all in one fell swoop with a game off-the-pace victory in the $200,000 Ellis Park Debutante on August 10.
The two-year-old filly, who became Essential Quality’s first winner June 27, has the distinction of now being the first Stakes winner for her freshman sire.
Sent off as the heavy 3-5 favorite off that impressive three-length debut win, Chopsticks broke cleanly under jockey Florent Geroux and was settled just off the pace in third, as Kingsolver and Boom Boom Bell battled for the early lead.
Chopsticks her move on the far turn, moving up to challenge for the lead while swinging three-wide. The grey/roan filly took a short lead at the top of the stretch and had to repel a challenge from Kingsolver late to notch the one-length victory. Kingsolver was a clear second, with Prowess getting up for third.
Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Chopsticks was a $300,000 purchase by Selective LLC out of the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale. She is out of the Stakes-winning and G2-placed mare, Miss Southern Miss (by More Than Ready) and is a half sister to Stakes-placed Beyond Stoked (by Into Mischief). Chopsticks’ second dam is the multiple Stakes winner, Miss Atlantic City (by Stormy Atlantic).
Dual champion Essential Quality was also represented over the weekend by the impressive first-time starter, Aye Eye, who rocketed from last-to-first to win a maiden special weight contest at Saratoga.
