Colt shows his Quality in Hal's Hope

Last updated: 1/3/10 6:31 PM

Quality Road returned to his winning ways in the Hal’s Hope
(Guy Gustafson/Horsephotos.com)

Edward P. Evans’ homebred QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality) made his
four-year-old debut a winning one on Sunday, drawing off to a 2
3/4-length victory in the $100,000

Hal’s Hope S. (G3) on Gulfstream Park’s opening day card. With John
Velazquez aboard, the Todd Pletcher charge set every fraction before
stopping the clock in 1:36 1/5 on the fast dirt.

Quality Road immediately tugged his way to the front when the gates
opened, setting a pedestrian opening quarter of :25 running off the rail
while closely tracked by Spin Master (Distorted Humor) with Le Grand Cru
(Dynaformer) just in between the pair. In the meantime, You and I
Forever (A.P. Indy) had taken advantage of the wide open rail and ranged
up to the inside of Quality Road through a half in :48 1/5 and six
furlongs in 1:12.

You and I Forever appeared ready to blow right on by his younger
rival rounding the turn, but Quality Road suddenly shifted into another
gear and pulled away under a hand ride from Velazquez. You and I Forever
continued on gamely to hold second by a neck over Congressional Page
(Orientate).

Quality Road was worth $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10 as the heavy 2-5
favorite in the nine-horse field, and ended the $20 exacta. You and I
Forever paid $6.80 and $3.80 as the 13-1 fourth pick, while
Congressional Page returned $5.20 at 19-1 to finish the $140.40 trifecta. It was another four lengths back to near 5-1 second choice
Harlem Rocker (Macho Uno), who rounded out the 2-1-9-7 superfecta that
totaled $610.80. Helsinki (Distorted Humor), Le Grand Cru, Colonial
Causeway (Giant’s Causeway), Spin Master and Suyeta (Indian Charlie)
completed the order under the wire.

Quality Road showed promise early on in his three-year-old career, capturing
the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) under the tutelage of
trainer James Jerkens. Though he set a new track record of 1:47.72 for the
latter event, the bay colt’s Kentucky Derby (G1) aspirations were plagued by
quarter-crack issues and he ultimately never got to run in any of the Triple
Crown races.

Evans transferred Quality Road to Pletcher, who saddled his new charge to an
easy victory in the Amsterdam S. (G2) at Saratoga. Quality Road set another
track record in the Amsterdam, running 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13.45, then finished
third and second to Summer Bird (Birdstone) in the Travers S. (G1) and Jockey
Club Gold Cup (G1), respectively, on sloppy tracks. The sophomore suffered a
meltdown at the gate of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and was scratched out of
the championship event. This win inducted Quality Road into the millionaire’s
club, as he’s now banked $1,032,830, and his line improved to 8-5-2-1.

The Virginia-bred is out of Kobla (Strawberry Road [Aus]), who has since
produced a juvenile filly named Kobla Cat (Tale of the Cat). Quality Road is
also a half-brother to Mt. Kobla (Mt. Livermore), herself the dam of dual Group
2-placed King Ledley (Stormin Fever). Kobla is a full sister to 1997 champion
three-year-old filly and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) heroine Ajina, an earner of
more than $1.3 million. She also counts multiple Grade 3 victor Rob’s Spirit
(Theatrical [Ire]) as a half-brother. Quality Road’s third dam is Irish champion
Highest Trump (Bold Bidder), whose descendants include multiple English Group 1
winner and highweight Bahri (Riverman).