Despite making just the third start of his career and facing stakes company for the first time, Edward Evans' homebred Quality Road romped to a resounding 4 1/4-length victory in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park.
Quality Road turned back a bid from even-money favorite Dunkirk in upper stretch and drew away for a sensational 1 3/4-length victory in the $750,000 Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park. The son of Elusive Quality set a new 1 1/8-mile course record in 1:47.72.
Quality Road, a contender for the 2009 Kentucky Derby, returned from a mile and three-quarter gallop on the Belmont Park training track April 26 with a tinge of blood from a newly-patched quarter crack, but his connections remained optimistic he will make the May 2 ""Run for the Roses."" Unfortunately, one day later Quality Road was removed from Derby contention.
In the Amsterdam Stakes, Quality Road broke a 30-year-old track record for six and half furlongs at Saratoga in his first start since winning the Florida Derby (gr. I) back in March.
In the $1-million Shadwell Travers at Saratoga, Quality Road could not get past Summer Bird, who rolled through the slop for an easy 3 1/2-length score. Six weeks later, Summer Bird would again defeat Quality Road in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Quality Road was scratched out of the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic after fighting to load into the gate.
Photo: Mathea Kelley
He not only suffered several injuries from his traumatic incident at the starting gate, he suffered mentally as well and now will have to van home to Belmont Park from California after refusing to get on the plane.
Photo: Mathea Kelley
Quality Road got the new year off to a great start after he captured the Hal's Hope on opening day at Gulfstream Park.
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Quality Road turned in a track record breaking effort as he captured the Grade I Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park on 2/6/10.
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