Quality Road
Encyclopedia
Quality Road is an American Thoroughbred
racehorse
. Bred and raced by Edward P. Evans, his sire is World record
setter, Elusive Quality
, who also sired 2004 Kentucky Derby
/Preakness Stakes
winner Smarty Jones
and 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic
winner, Raven's Pass
. His dam is Kobla, a daughter of 1983 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year
, Strawberry Road
.
, Quality Road raced in Florida
in early 2009, where his wins in the Fountain of Youth Stakes
and Grade 1
Florida Derby
made him a favorite for the Kentucky Derby. However, he suffered two injuries. The first was a quarter crack on his right hind foot the day he won the Florida Derby. In April, he suffered a second quarter crack on his right front foot. As a result, he missed all three legs of the U.S. Triple Crown
series.
In mid June, owner Edward Evans transferred the colt to the care of trainer Todd Pletcher. On August 3, 2009, Quality Road made his first start since his injury, winning the Amsterdam Stakes
at Saratoga Race Course
in a track record time of 1:13.74 for six and a half furlong
s.
On August 29, 2009, Quality Road finished third to Summer Bird in the Travers Stakes. Quality Road followed that on October 10 with a second to Summer Bird in the Jockey Gold Cup. Later that month, Quality Road was pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic, in the hopes that his running style would be well-suited to the polytrack at Santa Anita Park
.
On November 7, 2009, Quality Road became the first horse to scratch at the gate in the Breeders' Cup Classic. After he refused to load into the starting gate kicking with his hind legs on two or three occasions, the track crew blindfolded him and he commenced to kick wildly, scraping his hocks on the gate and forcing the scratch.
as the odds-on favorite. He won by 2 lengths.
On February 6, he broke his own track record when he won the Donn Handicap
with John Velzquez riding. Quality Road finished the race in 1:47.49 to break the record of 1:47.72, which he set when he won the 2009 Florida Derby
. He took control of the race at the stretch and then began to pull away at the eighth pole. Dry Martini, the 2009 Suburban Handicap
winner, was second.
In an interview with the Thoroughbred Times after the race, Pletcher said he would point the colt for the Metropolitan Handicap
and the "big races" at Saratoga Race Course
"before the Breeders' Cup Classic
" in fall 2010. He also complimented Quality Road's performance, saying, “He’s got a very high cruising speed and can go :46 and 1:09 and still keep going. Not many horses can do that and he was spotting weight to all those horses, six pounds or more.
Quality Road earned a 121 Beyer Speed Figure in the Donn Handicap, the highest speed figure awarded for a race over one mile since 2005.
Going into his third start of the year as expected, Pletcher choose the Metropolitan Handicap
on May 31. In the race Quality Road was installed as favorite and did not disappoint holding off Musket Man to win the race in a very fast time of 1:33.11.
On August 7th, 2010 Quality Road ran 2nd in the Whitney Handicap
beaten a head by eventual Breeders' Cup Classic
winner Blame.
On September 4th, 2010 Quality won the Woodward Stakes
by 4 lengths, trainer Todd Pletcher
said after the race that Quality Road's next start would be the Breeders' Cup Classic
at Churchill Downs
on November 6th, 2010.
On November 6th, 2010 Quality Road ran in Breeders' Cup Classic
, due to the post position 1, which is on the rail and subsequently the deepest part of the track. Quality Road was stuck there all the way around the track and never took a hold of the track and finished 12th and last, to |Blame]. After the race, it was determined that the horse had an abscess and that was the reason he was pulled up in the race.
Quality Road was then retired to Lane's End Farm
in Versailles, Kentucky, his stud fee for 2011 is set for $35,000.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. Bred and raced by Edward P. Evans, his sire is World record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
setter, Elusive Quality
Elusive Quality
Elusive Quality is a thoroughbred racehorse.Elusive Quality stands at stud at Darley America's Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He raced in the colours of Darley's principal, Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum. Prior to standing at Darley America he stood at Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, Kentucky...
, who also sired 2004 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
/Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
winner Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones is a thoroughbred race horse, and winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He finished second in the Belmont Stakes that took place on June 5th, 2004....
and 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
winner, Raven's Pass
Raven's Pass
Raven's Pass is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse most notable for being the first English-trained winner of the Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California....
. His dam is Kobla, a daughter of 1983 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year
Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year
The Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within an Australian racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia, regardless of age and sex, and includes overseas performances.This award...
, Strawberry Road
Strawberry Road
Strawberry Road was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who went on to race in Germany, France, the United States, and Japan...
.
Three Year Old Season
Trained by Jimmy JerkensJames A. Jerkens
James A. "Jimmy" Jerkens is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer. His father, U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee H. Allen Jerkens, and brother, Steve Jerkens, are also trainers....
, Quality Road raced in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in early 2009, where his wins in the Fountain of Youth Stakes
Fountain of Youth Stakes
The Fountain of Youth Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida at the beginning of March. A Grade II event open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt, it offers a purse of $400,000...
and Grade 1
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Florida Derby
Florida Derby
The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on the Saturday closest to the end of March or the first of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade 1 race is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt...
made him a favorite for the Kentucky Derby. However, he suffered two injuries. The first was a quarter crack on his right hind foot the day he won the Florida Derby. In April, he suffered a second quarter crack on his right front foot. As a result, he missed all three legs of the U.S. Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
series.
In mid June, owner Edward Evans transferred the colt to the care of trainer Todd Pletcher. On August 3, 2009, Quality Road made his first start since his injury, winning the Amsterdam Stakes
Amsterdam Stakes
The Amsterdam Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of July at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to three-year-old horses, it is a sprint race competed over a distance of 6½ furlongs...
at Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
in a track record time of 1:13.74 for six and a half furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s.
On August 29, 2009, Quality Road finished third to Summer Bird in the Travers Stakes. Quality Road followed that on October 10 with a second to Summer Bird in the Jockey Gold Cup. Later that month, Quality Road was pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic, in the hopes that his running style would be well-suited to the polytrack at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
.
On November 7, 2009, Quality Road became the first horse to scratch at the gate in the Breeders' Cup Classic. After he refused to load into the starting gate kicking with his hind legs on two or three occasions, the track crew blindfolded him and he commenced to kick wildly, scraping his hocks on the gate and forcing the scratch.
Four Year Old Season
On January 3, Quality Road made his 4 year old debut in the Grade III Hal's Hope StakesHal's Hope Handicap
The Hal's Hope Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Gulfstream Park located in Hallandale Beach, Florida, the first graded stakes race run at Gulfstream each year...
as the odds-on favorite. He won by 2 lengths.
On February 6, he broke his own track record when he won the Donn Handicap
Donn Handicap
The Donn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late January/early February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.The race is named after the Donn family, who for many years owned and operated the racetrack....
with John Velzquez riding. Quality Road finished the race in 1:47.49 to break the record of 1:47.72, which he set when he won the 2009 Florida Derby
Florida Derby
The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on the Saturday closest to the end of March or the first of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade 1 race is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt...
. He took control of the race at the stretch and then began to pull away at the eighth pole. Dry Martini, the 2009 Suburban Handicap
Suburban Handicap
The Suburban Handicap is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is run at the classic one-and-one-quarter mile distance on dirt for a $400,000 purse....
winner, was second.
In an interview with the Thoroughbred Times after the race, Pletcher said he would point the colt for the Metropolitan Handicap
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
and the "big races" at Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
"before the Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
" in fall 2010. He also complimented Quality Road's performance, saying, “He’s got a very high cruising speed and can go :46 and 1:09 and still keep going. Not many horses can do that and he was spotting weight to all those horses, six pounds or more.
Quality Road earned a 121 Beyer Speed Figure in the Donn Handicap, the highest speed figure awarded for a race over one mile since 2005.
Going into his third start of the year as expected, Pletcher choose the Metropolitan Handicap
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first...
on May 31. In the race Quality Road was installed as favorite and did not disappoint holding off Musket Man to win the race in a very fast time of 1:33.11.
On August 7th, 2010 Quality Road ran 2nd in the Whitney Handicap
Whitney Handicap
The Whitney Handicap is an American Grade 1 handicap race for Thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and older run at a distance of 1⅛ miles. In 2007, the Breeders' Cup Ltd...
beaten a head by eventual Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
winner Blame.
On September 4th, 2010 Quality won the Woodward Stakes
Woodward Stakes
The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. Named for prominent racehorse owner, George Nicholas Woodward, it is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for a purse of $750,000.The Woodward was run as a handicap in...
by 4 lengths, trainer Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher is a leading American thoroughbred horse trainer. He has won four consecutive Eclipse Awards as outstanding Trainer of the Year, while topping the leader board in purse earnings in 2004, 2005, and 2006. His horse Super Saver won the 2010 Kentucky Derby, the first of his 24 horses...
said after the race that Quality Road's next start would be the Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
on November 6th, 2010.
On November 6th, 2010 Quality Road ran in Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
, due to the post position 1, which is on the rail and subsequently the deepest part of the track. Quality Road was stuck there all the way around the track and never took a hold of the track and finished 12th and last, to |Blame]. After the race, it was determined that the horse had an abscess and that was the reason he was pulled up in the race.
Quality Road was then retired to Lane's End Farm
Lane's End Farm
Lane's End Farm is a thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Versailles, Kentucky established in 1979. The original land was part of Bosque Bonita Farm which means beautiful woods and was originally owned by Abraham Buford, a Confederate Army General. The land was later bought by leading...
in Versailles, Kentucky, his stud fee for 2011 is set for $35,000.
| Finish | Race | Distance | Jockey | Time | Grade | Runner up/Winner | Track |
| 12th | Breeders' Cup Classic Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships... |
mi | J. Velasquez | 2:02.28 | I | Blame Blame Blame is the act of censuring, holding responsible, making negative statements about an individual or group that their action or actions are socially or morally irresponsible, the opposite of praise. When someone is morally responsible for doing something wrong their action is blameworthy... (1st) |
Churchill Downs |
| 1st | Woodward Stakes Woodward Stakes The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. Named for prominent racehorse owner, George Nicholas Woodward, it is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for a purse of $750,000.The Woodward was run as a handicap in... |
mi | J. Velasquez | 1:50.00 | I | Mythical Power | Saratoga Race Track |
| 2nd | Whitney Handicap Whitney Handicap The Whitney Handicap is an American Grade 1 handicap race for Thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and older run at a distance of 1⅛ miles. In 2007, the Breeders' Cup Ltd... |
mi | J. Velasquez | 1:48.88 | I | Blame Blame Blame is the act of censuring, holding responsible, making negative statements about an individual or group that their action or actions are socially or morally irresponsible, the opposite of praise. When someone is morally responsible for doing something wrong their action is blameworthy... (1st) |
Saratoga Race Track |
| 1st | Metropolitan Handicap Metropolitan Handicap The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile .The Met Mile was first... |
1 mi | J. Velasquez | 1:33.11 | I | Musket Man | Belmont Park |
| 1st | Donn Handicap Donn Handicap The Donn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late January/early February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.The race is named after the Donn family, who for many years owned and operated the racetrack.... |
mi | J. Velasquez | 1:47.49 | I | Dry Martini | Gulfstream Park |
| 1st | Hal's Hope Handicap Hal's Hope Handicap The Hal's Hope Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Gulfstream Park located in Hallandale Beach, Florida, the first graded stakes race run at Gulfstream each year... |
1 mi | J. Velasquez | 1:36.33 | III | You and I Forever | Gulfstream Park |
| 2nd | Jockey Club Gold Cup Jockey Club Gold Cup The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a prestigious thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It is typically the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the spring meeting and the Travers Stakes is of the... |
mi | J. Velasquez | 2:02.51 | I | Summer Bird Summer Bird Summer Bird is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse, son of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone. He was bred by retired cardiologist Kalarikkal Jayaraman and his wife, retired pathologist Vilasini Jayaraman, at their Tiffany Farm near Ocala, Florida... (1st) |
Belmont Park |
| 3rd | Travers Stakes Travers Stakes The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers... |
mi | J. Velasquez | 2:02.83 | I | Summer Bird Summer Bird Summer Bird is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse, son of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone. He was bred by retired cardiologist Kalarikkal Jayaraman and his wife, retired pathologist Vilasini Jayaraman, at their Tiffany Farm near Ocala, Florida... (1st) |
Saratoga Race Track |
| 1st | Amsterdam Stakes Amsterdam Stakes The Amsterdam Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of July at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to three-year-old horses, it is a sprint race competed over a distance of 6½ furlongs... |
fur Furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries.... |
J. Velasquez | 1:13.45 | II | Capt. Candyman Can | Saratoga Race Track |
| 1st | Florida Derby Florida Derby The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on the Saturday closest to the end of March or the first of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade 1 race is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt... |
mi | J. Velasquez | 1:36.41 | I | Dunkirk | Gulfstream Park |
| 1st | Fountain of Youth Stakes Fountain of Youth Stakes The Fountain of Youth Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida at the beginning of March. A Grade II event open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt, it offers a purse of $400,000... |
1 mi | J. Velasquez | 1:35.01 | II | Theregoesjojo | Gulfstream Park |
| 2nd | Allowance | 7 fur Furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries.... |
A. Garcia | 1:22.23 | None | Theregoesjojo (1st) | Gulfstream Park |
| 1st | Maiden | fur Furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries.... |
A. Garcia | 1:16.11 | None | Toulouse Lautec | Aqueduct Race Track |