|
|
The Usual Q. T. powers home in Eddie Read
"He's learned to relax; it's made all the difference for him," Espinoza explained. "I was just sitting back there behind those front two (Acclamation and Enriched) and they were going in and out. I thought for a second (on the turn) I was going to go down inside, but then I decided I didn't have to. I went wide and he just drew out. I took a pretty good hold of him at the end. He was a winner. I didn't need to do anything more with him." "He tries every single time," Cassidy said. "I didn't want Victor (Espinoza) to go inside (as they turned for home). I didn't want to get the horse stopped. Victor was smart enough to see that and he just took a little hold and went outside. When he got in the clear, I looked back at the field and couldn't see anybody coming. "If he doesn't have any horses next to him, he can relax and that's what he did today. I'll keep an eye on the weather in Chicago (for the August 21 Arlington Million [G1]). I'm not going to run him there if the ground is bad. If that happens, we'll look at things here and consider the (August 29) Del Mar H. (G2) or even the (August 28) Pacific Classic (G1) on the Polytrack." The Usual Q. T. was sent off the 7-5 favorite in the seven-horse field, paying $4.80, $3.20 and $2.60. Victor's Cry was game in defeat, returning $5 and $3.60 as the 5-1 fourth pick , and it was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Enriched, who gave back $3.40 at 9-2. The $1 exotics were worth $11.20 (exacta), $44.40 (trifecta) and $242.40 (3-2-6-1 superfecta). Crowded House (GB) (Rainbow Quest), Hyades (Aldebaran), Acclamation and Loup Breton (Ire) (Anabaa) completed the order under the wire. The Usual Q. T. has now compiled a career mark of 15-8-4-0, $993,320. The bay gelding started out against fellow California-breds on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride last fall, finishing second in a pair of maidens. He did not make his sophomore debut until June, when he tested the turf in a six-furlong sprint and closed furiously to miss by a head. After two unsuccessful efforts on Hollywood's Cushion Track, Cassidy put him back on turf and sent him two turns, a move that paid off with wins in the California Cup Mile H., Oak Tree Derby (G2), Hollywood Derby (G1) and Sir Beaufort S. (G3). In The Usual Q. T.'s first start of his four-year-old campaign, he had a six-race winning skein broken when ninth in the Sunshine Millions Classic, but his connections still decided to give him a shot on the international stage and shipped him to Dubai for the World Cup Day. The bay ran fourth in the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) on March 27 and was given three months off before returning to take an allowance on June 27 at Hollywood Park prior to this one. Bred by Carlee Van Kempen in the Golden State, The Usual Q. T. is the first registered foal from the winning Western Fame mare Lunge, who is a full sister to stakes victor Western Act. Lunge has since produced an unraced juvenile colt named Norton B. (Bertrando), a yearling filly called Easy El (Benchmark) and a 2010 filly by In Excess (Ire).. Further back, this is the family of Today 'n Tomorrow (Olympiad King), hero of the 1977 Sunset H. (G1) and San Bernardino H. (G2).
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
