Usha dominates the G1 La Brea, Santa Anita Park Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —Usha uncorked a powerful performance under Juan Hernandez to win her Grade I debut in Sunday’s $300,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on opening day at Santa Anita Park.
Sent of the 5-1 third choice in a field of 10, Usha raced in mid-pack down the backstretch, split horses near the quarter pole and then drew off in the stretch to romp by 5 ¼ lengths for trainer Bob Baffert. Formula Rossa, the 2-1 favorite for trainer Mark Glatt, finished second under Mike Smith. Simply Joking (16-1) was another neck back in third with Brilliantly (7-1), also trained by Baffert, completing the superfecta.
Usha won in a time of 1:21.68 following fractions of 21.85, 44.43 and 1:09.38. As for favorite Formula Rossa, she broke near the rear of the field, drew within range of the leaders turning into the stretch but was no match for the dominant winner.
“She is really good…she can be a little nervous and leaves some of the race in the post parade but today she was really calm,” Hernandez said. “(Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes) and the guys in the barn did a really good job with her and kept her calm. It worked out really well.”
Usha is owned by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. Known as the “Three Amigos,” the trio purchased the New York-bred filly by Tiz the Law for $600,000 at last year’s OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale. Usha is out of Animal Appeal, a stakes-placed daughter of Leroidesanimaux.
As a 2-year-old, Usha went 0-for-4. Following a nine-month layoff, she returned for her 3-year-old debut in July at Del Mar and promptly aired by 11 ½ lengths. Most recently, Usha finished seventh in the GII Raven Run going seven furlongs at Keeneland in her stakes debut on Oct. 18. The La Brea score ups her record to 8: 3-2-2 with $328,350 in earnings.
“Usha showed up today,” Baffert said. “I shipped her to Kentucky for her last race and she lost it in the paddock. She came back here and that worked well. Juan knows her really well, I didn’t have to say anything to him. We expected this when I shipped her to Kentucky, and didn’t win a race, but today she showed up.”
Usha paid $13.20, $5.00 and $3.80. Formula Rossa returned $3.40 and $3.00. Simply Joking, ridden by Kazushi Kimura for trainer Michael McCarthy, paid $6.20.
