Essential Quality's Chopsticks Scores First Lifetime Stakes for Sire and Herself, Takes Debutante at Ellis

Looking to hand her freshman sire his first stakes score, Chopsticks (Essential Quality) was tough as nails down the lane as she stood on business in the Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park on Sunday afternoon.

Chopsticks was a debut winner at Churchill Downs June 27 when she cleared and graduated by three lengths. Slammed at the windows to the tune of 70 cents on the dollar here, the juvenile raced in the three path up the backstretch as a longshot showed the way. The grey continued to fan wide around the far turn and by the top of the lane she had the advantage. However, Kingsolver (Omaha Beach) was giving the favorite all she could handle, but Chopsticks showed resolve though and put away her rival to snag the prize.

The winner's dam is responsible for 3-year-old filly in-training Wonderland (Medaglia d'Oro) and she visited Essential Quality once again for next spring. Chopsticks's grand dam is MSW Miss Atlantic City (Stormy Atlantic). As for Essential Quality, the Darley sire has 119 foals of racing age.

ELLIS PARK DEBUTANTE S., $197,000, Ellis, 8-10, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:23.68, ft.
1–CHOPSTICKS, 120, f, 2, by Essential Quality
                  1st Dam: Miss Southern Miss (SW & GSP, $220,399),                              
                            by More Than Ready
                  2nd Dam: Miss Atlantic City, by Stormy Atlantic
                  3rd Dam: Fat City, by Carson City
($300,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Selective, LLC; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $121,380. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $190,680.
2–Kingsolver, 122, f, 2, Omaha Beach–Famous Writer, by Speightstown. ($20,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP; $95,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR). O-Storyteller Racing, Schroeck Racing LLC, Open Gate Horse Ventures, LLC, Brian Cahoe, Scott Catlett, Dave Russel, Matthew Ransdell, Michael Motley and Joel Braun; B-George Krikorian (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. $39,800.
3–Prowess, 120, f, 2, Tiz the Law–Sweet August Lady, by City Zip. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Dream Big Racing, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $19,900.
Margins: 1, 2 3/4, 4. Odds: 0.70, 2.13, 3.41.
Also Ran: Red Beretta, Boom Boom Bell, Mescat.
Click for the Equibase.com chart.

🥢🥢 Chopsticks re-rallies and stays perfect in the Debutante at @ellisparkracing! @flothejock was aboard for trainer @bradcoxracing.

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/r3dKQYj4CW

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 10, 2025