One of the most dominant forces that California racing has ever seen, Bob Baffert made headlines in March when it was announced that he would keep a larger string of horses based in Kentucky throughout the year. Of course, the Hall of Famer's success has stretched far beyond the California borders, but bringing a large group of horses—and highly talented horses at that—to be based in the state was a nod to the strength of Kentucky racing.
Over the past several years, the addition of Historical Horse Racing machines in the commonwealth has led to more lucrative purses. It was only a matter of time before a top trainer like Baffert would want a piece of the action. His decision was a fruitful one May 25 as grade 1 winner Usha earned a second career graded stakes victory in the Winning Colors Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.
The feature on Churchill's Memorial Day card was worth $220,000. For comparison in California—a state that does not have any options for added gaming revenue supporting purses—grade 3 races at Santa Anita Park typically are contested for $100,000. Its grade 2 races typically run for $200,000, and the pair of grade 1 races contested on their Memorial Day card were worth $300,000 apiece.
With a large barn like Baffert's that can compete on the national scale, splitting up and chasing purses in both places was a no-brainer.
"Churchill Downs, Kentucky is getting so strong," Baffert said. "I still have horses in California, and we're running there in stakes, but I want to be able to split them up. That's very important."
Having the string in Kentucky also proved beneficial for a horse like Usha. Last fall, Baffert shipped the Tiz the Law filly to Keeneland from California for her stakes debut in the Raven Run Stakes (G2). She did not emerge from the ship in top form and came up flat in the race, finishing seventh.
Again, she shipped in to Kentucky from California for her seasonal debut May 2, finishing third while beaten 4 lengths in the Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1). Following that effort, she had the chance to settle into Kentucky and acclimate herself, and she bounced back with a strong effort Monday.
"She's been here and getting used to it," Baffert said. "Some horses, I can run them off the plane. She's not that kind. I think just being here helped a lot."
Baffert also felt her effort in the Derby City was compromised by a rail draw over a 7-furlong distance. That was not an issue Monday as she broke from post 6 in a seven-horse field. Jockey Florent Geroux worked out the perfect trip while attaching himself to the hip of pace-setting Foie Gras. Chasing fractions of :22.86 and :45.62, Geroux approached the quarter pole full of run.
Foie Gras proved a tough customer down the lane, but Geroux always felt like he had her beat. Yet, Usha was not pulling away from her rival, showing greenness as she cocked her head slightly to the left on several occasions. That made the heart of any of her backers drop as the stretch-running Zeitlos was revving up on the outside and put in her bid.
A little more ground and Zeitlos may have gotten there, but the wire came up just in time as Usha held on by a head and completed 6 furlongs in 1:10.21. The track was rated fast but had received a lot of moisture throughout the weekend. She paid $6.88 to win.
Zeitlos was second, and Foie Gras was third while 4 3/4 lengths clear of the rest.
"I came at the quarter pole very easy with a lot of horse. I thought I had it pretty easily until the end," Geroux said. "I thought she was going pretty easy, and she was just wandering around the last furlong."
Baffert's assessment matched Geroux's.
"She's improving, and she's still pretty green," Baffert said. "I could tell in the stretch she was still looking around. I was debating putting blinkers on her, but I think she'd be too rank. She's improving. The real Usha showed up today."
Now 4-2-3 from 10 starts, Usha has earned $539,870 for owners Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. Bred in New York by Kristen and Matt Esler and Jeff Raine, Usha is the third graded winner in the United States this year for Tiz the Law, who has also sired a quartet of graded winners in Chile. The 2020 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner stands the 2026 season at Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., for a $40,000 fee.
READ: Usha Shines a Light on Thirty Year Farm
Just like Usha, Baffert himself has been readjusting to life in Kentucky; joking in the winner's circle that the rain has been the most difficult thing to get used to. The Hall of Famer said he hasn't left since arriving ahead of the Kentucky Derby (G1), leaving the California barn in the very capable hands of longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes.
"It's been fun. I used to spend all my summers here years and years ago and did really well," Baffert said. "It's just getting back into the groove. You have to train them differently than you would in California; it's like I'm going back to school. But we brought some good horses and hopefully they'll keep running well. It's tough here, you better bring a good horse."
Usha was Baffert's 18th starter so far during the Churchill Downs spring meet and his third winner. Most of those starts came during Kentucky Derby week—always one of the most difficult weeks of the year—and he emerged with a Pat Day Mile (G2) victory for Crude Velocity. After Derby week, he's 2-1-0 in four starts.
In his corner is Dan Ward, a graded stakes-winning trainer himself, who joined the team as his main Kentucky assistant this spring.
"Dan's good. He's chill and he's a good horsemen," Baffert said. "We get along great. He's been around really good horses, so he knows what it's like."
He also has a trusted option in the saddle in Geroux. The two teamed up several times over the last decade when Baffert would ship horses to run in Kentucky, but their working relationship flourished this winter as Geroux rode in California. Geroux has maintained that business switching back to Kentucky, riding both of Baffert's stakes winners so far this meet.
"He's been great," Geroux said of Baffert. "He's always been helping me out. He's a Hall of Fame trainer. When he gives you these opportunities, you have to take it with both hands."
