La Brea S. (G1) goes to Usha in tour-de-force performance

Usha romped to a 5 ¼-length score in the $300,000 La Brea S. (G1) Dec. 28 at Santa Anita Park, the first graded stakes win for the Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old filly.

Baffert now has a record 10 wins in the seven-furlong race, dating back to 1992 with Arches of Gold.

Usha’s stablemate Silent Law was quickest out of the gate, dueling with Artisma through a torrid half-mile of :44.43. The hot early pace began to take its toll on the turn, and Usha split horses with a bold move to take command at the quarter pole. She quickly sprinted clear and was all alone in the stretch, finishing in 1:21.68 on the fast track.

“Usha showed up today,” Baffert said. “I shipped her to [Keeneland, the Raven Run] 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 that race, but today she showed up.”

Usha is campaigned by Mike Pegram (who also owned Arches of Gold), along with Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. The chestnut filly is 3-2-2 in eight starts and has earned $328,350.