Usha hangs on over late-running Zeitlos to take Winning Colors
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Usha, saved by the wire, barely held off onrushing longshot Zeitlos to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Winning Colors Stakes on Monday at Churchill Downs.
Florent Geroux worked out a perfect pace-pressing trip for Usha, who took full advantage of a favorable outside draw as Geroux rationed out her speed. Foie Gras bounded to an early lead after breaking from the rail, but Usha quickly hooked her, the pair going 22.86 and 45.82.
The pace for this six-furlong dirt contest probably was modest, since the two who were on it both had plenty left for the homestretch. Usha inched clear to the furlong grounds, at which point she clearly had bested Foie Gras, but the real danger just was revving up.
Zeitlos, a 13-1 chance, entered the Winning Colors on a seven-race losing streak and in two starts this year had not looked like her best self, but the Steve Asmussen barn had her ready Monday. Last of seven early and near the back of the field to the quarter-pole, Zeitlos was steered from the No. 2 path down to the fence, gaining ground to the eighth pole, whereupon Hernandez tipped her outside to take aim at Fois Gras and Usha. Zeitlos came hard, but the finish came first, Usha home by a head.
Foie Gras held well for third, a neck behind Zeitlos, while One Magic Philly never traveled with the sharpness she’d displayed winning the Roxelana Stakes in her last out, checking in fourth, almost five lengths behind Foie Gras. She ran better than 2-1 favorite Kapoor, who struggled from the early stages in her stakes debut, never reaching contention, finishing a distant last of seven.
Usha paid a surprisingly generous $6.88, second choice despite dropping in class from Grade 1 competition – a win in the age-restricted La Brea, and a third earlier this month in the Derby City Distaff. Trained for Pegram & Watson and Weitman by Bob Baffert, Usha clocked 1:10.21 over a fast track. The 4-year-old daughter of Tiz the Law and Animal Appeal, by Leroidesanimeaux, was bred in New York by Esler and Raine - and she was just fast enough this Memorial Day to win the Winning Colors.
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