Gambling on less-than-proven stallions is always risky, but in searching for a Tapit-line stallion to send Cabra Chica to in 2026, Essential Quality stood out as incredible value when compared to the others at the top of the Leading Freshman Sire list. As such, we’ll take a swing and send Cabra Chica his way as his first runners turn 3YO.
We sought out the Tapit line for Cabra Chica primarily because she’s half to a black-type 2YO by a low-profile Maryland-based son of Tapit, while the Maryland-bred Horse of the Year and multiple graded stakes winner Post Time, by Tapit’s son Frosted, appears under her second dam. (Obviously we went in the same general direction with her for her first mating, to an A.P. Indy grandson.) The Tapit/Street Cry cross, meanwhile, has produced the likes of 2025 multiple G1 winner Mindframe, plus the talented G2 winners Lake Avenue, Greatest Honour and Magic On Tap, and ‘25 black-type winning 2YO Meringue.
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A son of the perennial leading sire Tapit, the Godolphin homebred Essential Quality is one of just seven horses to earn an Eclipse Championship at 2YO and 3YO. He was unbeaten at 2 for trainer Brad Cox, with wins in the G1 Breeders’ Futurity and G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. As a sophomore, he added scores in the G1 Belmont and G1 Travers, plus the historic G2 Blue Grass, the G2 Jim Dandy and the G3 Southwest. His only losses were a 3rd in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in his career finale, and a 3rd (following the DQ of Medina Spirit) in the G1 Kentucky Derby. So his final record reads (10) 8-0-2, with earnings of $4.7 million. He retired to his owner’s Darley at Jonabell for the 2022 breeding season at a fee of $75,000, the highest of his intake.
And as this season comes to a close for his first 2YOs¹, Essential Quality currently sits third on the Freshman Sire List by progeny earnings, only about $30k off of his second-placed barnmate Maxfield. Essential Quality has had 17 winners, including three black-type winners (only one freshman sire has more BTWs). The two horses above him on the Freshman Sire List will be standing for $60k and $50k in ‘26, compared to the $25k at which Essential Quality is advertised — which we believe makes him an excellent value.
This is especially true given that — although he was unbeaten at 2, as mentioned above — Essential Quality got better through the season, and continued to improve as a 3YO as well, especially with added distance. As such, we won’t be shocked when his own runners continue to improve with more time, maturity and distance, too. Their results are already bearing this out, as Essential Quality’s totals include five new winners and a new black-type winner since November 1st.
So we believe there is plenty more to come from Essential Quality.
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The final deciding factor that tipped the scales in favor of Essential Quality over the other options was his physical — he is a strapping specimen with loads of scope, exactly what you’d expect from a classically-inclined Belmont and Travers winner. Since Cabra Chica is a stout mare with plenty of substance, but perhaps a bit close-coupled and short-necked, Essential Quality is hopefully just the type to stretch her foal out the tad bit it might need to really appeal to the commercial market and make it the most effective racehorse possible!
This is being written on Dec. 4, 2025, though it will be scheduled for later publication via Substack.