The Usual Q.T. stretches streak to six
ARCADIA, Calif. - The Usual Q.T. extended his winning streak to six races in Saturday's $100,000 at Santa Anita, his third straight win in a graded stakes.
Trainer Jim Cassidy considered Saturday's win to be a little more than a trial. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, The Usual Q.T. ($2.80) was fourth, racing about 3 1/2 lengths behind pacesetter Quoted on the backstretch, rallied four wide on the turn, and won by a length over 16-1 Gallant Son. Massone finished third in the field of nine 3-year-olds.
The Usual Q.T. ran a mile on turf in 1:34.38. Earlier this year, he won the California Cup Mile, Grade 2 Oak Tree Derby, and Grade 1 Hollywood Derby to emerge as one of the leading California-breds of 2009.
Owned by a partnership, The Usual Q.T. has won 6 of 11 starts and $516,670.
Cassidy said that The Usual Q.T. will be pointed for the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Turf over 1 1/8 miles for California-breds and Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 30.
Caracortado handles first route
Unbeaten in three sprints in the fall, Caracortado proved he can run around two turns with a stylish win in the $100,000
He had to overcome a touch of traffic to win the stakes for statebreds. Ridden by Paul Atkinson, Caracortado ($6.20) was behind horses on the turn, and rallied from fifth in the final furlong to win by 1 3/4 lengths over 14-1 Alphie's Bet.
"I knew this horse, if he sees a threat of daylight, he'll go," Atkinson said. "I turned him loose and he took it. Everything he does is so professional, even for a baby. He does it so easily, even this race."
Owned by the partnership of trainer Mike Machowsky and Blahut Racing, Caracortado ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.61. Bred by Machowsky, Caracortado made his stakes debut in the California Breeders' Champion Stakes, having won a maiden claimer, starter allowance. and allowance race for statebreds preceding Saturday's race. He has earned $109,200.
Alphie's Bet, a maiden, finished a half-length in front of 8-5 favorite La Nez, a filly who won the California Cup Juvenile Fillies here in October.