Baffert turns Malibu-La Brea double with Goal Oriented, Usha

Bob Baffert swept all three dirt stakes on Santa Anita’s opening day program on Sunday, and in the process, extended his grip on the record book.

After Nysos gave the Hall of Famer a record eighth trophy in the Laffit Pincay Jr. (G2), Usha padded his record total in the $302,500 La Brea (G1), and Goal Oriented made him the winningest trainer in the $301,000 Malibu (G1). 

Malibu (G1)

Baffert entered the Malibu in a tie with fellow Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, each responsible for six winners of the traditional opening-day feature. A new record figured to be within Baffert’s grasp, since he had the Malibu surrounded with the top five contenders on the morning line.

But the Baffert brigade was reduced to three by the time they paraded to post. Favored Barnes was withdrawn earlier, and Cornucopian, the co-second choice at 7-2, had to be scratched after rearing up in the paddock. 

“It was just a whirlwind,” Baffert said. “Cornucopian was saddled and he just reared up a little bit, lost his footing, and sat down like a dog. He was all right, but once they do that, it’s an automatic scratch here, and I understand that. It was just silly, but it happens. 

“So there was a lot of pressure on the other boys.”

Chief among the “other boys” was Goal Oriented, who was bet down to 11-10 favoritism. Representing the same ownership as Cornucopian – the consortium spearheaded by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables – Goal Oriented was reverting to a sprint for the first time since his late-running debut victory here in April.

The son of hot sire Not This Time was subsequently thrown into the deep end of the classic division and mostly managed to hold his own. A tiring and hampered fourth in Journalism’s dramatic Preakness (G1), Goal Oriented went very close when third to the same rival in the Haskell (G1). He was beaten further when third to Baeza in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), and in his latest, he retreated to sixth behind Nysos in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Aside from the cutback to seven furlongs in the Malibu, Goal Oriented thrived with more patient tactics. He took the blinkers off, and new rider Joel Rosario timed his last-to-first rally to perfection.

Meanwhile, another of the SF Racing crew, Madaket Road, flashed speed with Modus Bestia early. Modus Bestia hustled up on the rail to grab a narrow lead through an initial quarter in :21.87, but he was done by the far turn.

As Madaket Road struck the front by the half in :44.30, stablemate Midland Money appeared to be enjoying the right trip. Midland Money, a CSLR Racing Partners colorbearer, advanced from a stalking spot to challenge entering the stretch. Despite lugging in greenly on the wrong lead, he overhauled Madaket Road.

By that point, Rosario produced Goal Oriented, and the favorite motored to a one-length decision. His final time was a snappy 1:20.97.

Midland Money was easily best of the rest by 3 1/4 lengths. California-bred Speedy Wilson got up for third, thwarting a Baffert trifecta. Madaket Road faded to fourth. Next came Smooth Cruisein, Berlin Wall, and the eased Modus Bestia. Longshot Spenard was scratched along with prime players Barnes and Cornucopian.

With this first stakes coup to his credit, Goal Oriented sports a mark of 7-3-0-2, $624,460. The dark bay captured a Churchill Downs allowance on Kentucky Derby Day that propelled him into the majors, and he’s found his zone now. 

Goal Oriented was bred by historic Runnymede Farm and CWC Investment 2 in Kentucky. The $425,000 Keeneland September yearling is out of the multiple Grade 3-winning Bizzy Caroline, a half-sister (by Afleet Alex) to turf champion Lady Eli. 

La Brea (G1)

Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman’s Usha delivered a breakout performance in the La Brea, not only for herself, but for her young sire Tiz the Law, who can now boast a Grade 1 winner in his first crop.

Usha was rebounding from the worst race of her life, a seventh in the Oct. 18 Raven Run (G2) in her stakes debut at Keeneland. Her nerves cost her dearly on that occasion, prompting Baffert to say that she “lost it in the paddock.” 

A calmer state of mind made all the difference on Sunday, enabling Usha to rack up a record-extending 10th victory for Baffert in the Malibu’s companion race for fillies.

The 5.60-1 third choice with Juan Hernandez aboard, Usha settled much better off the early pace. Up front, stablemate Silent Law was pressed by Artisma through an opening quarter in :21.85. Artisma counterpunched through the half in :44.43, but Usha was steadily improving her position in the pack.

Rounding the far turn, Usha scythed between Artisma and Silent Law and rapidly put the race away. The chestnut with the striking white face opened up by 5 1/4 lengths while completing seven furlongs in 1:21.68.

Formula Rossa, the slight 2-1 favorite, rallied belatedly to collar Simply Joking for second. The Baffert-trained Brilliantly just held fourth from Her Laugh. So There She Was, Silent Law, Artisma, the 2.70-1 Five G, and Schilflied concluded the order under the wire. Magnificat was scratched.

Usha, who rewarded her loyalists with $13.20, improved her resume to 8-3-2-2, $328,350. Placed in all four starts as a juvenile, she ran into the likes of salty stablemates Tenma and Non Compliant in two of her maidens. Usha resurfaced this summer with an 11-length demolition job in a Del Mar maiden, followed by an entry-level allowance romp over the same track and 6 1/2-furlong trip. That indicated her graded stakes potential.

Bred in New York by Esler and Raine, Usha is out of the stakes-placed Leroidesanimaux mare Animal Appeal. She went to her current connections for $600,000 as an OBS April two-year-old in training.