Chopsticks became the first black-type winner for Godolphin's homebred sire Essential Quality when the 2-year-old filly won the $197,000 Debutante Stakes Aug. 10 at Ellis Park.
A son of Tapit , Essential Quality stood the 2025 season for an advertised fee of $50,000 at Darley near Lexington. He was crowned with Eclipse Awards in 2020-21 for champion 2-year-old and 3-year-old male. His career on the racetrack was highlighted with wins in the 2020 Breeders' Futurity (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), and the 2021 Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1) under the tutelage of Brad Cox.
Selective LLC's Chopsticks came into the race off a three-length maiden win June 27 at Churchill Downs for Cox. She broke sharply and stalked the pacesetters through the beginning stages of the Debutante before making her move into the turn heading for home, fighting off a game Kingsolver in the stretch to win by one length. Chopsticks finished the seven-furlong race in 1:23.68.
Chopsticks was bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall and is out of the graded stakes placed mare Miss Southern Miss. Her owners picked her up at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $300,000 from the Machmer Hall Sales consignment.
She is now undefeated in two starts, racking up earnings of $190,680.
Video: Ellis Park Debutante S. (BT)
