(Usha wins the G3 Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs on Monday’s Memorial Day card / All Photos by Coady Media)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team / Darren Rogers:

USHA PUTS AWAY FOIE GRAS, TURNS BACK ZEITLOS TO WIN GRADE III WINNING COLORS

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Monday, May 25, 2026) – Usha relaxed just off pacesetter Foie Gras, poked her head in front leaving the turn and turned back a late charge from Zeitlos to win Monday’s 23rd running of the $220,000 Winning Colors (Grade III) at Churchill Downs by a head.

          Florent Geroux rode Usha to victory for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman while clocking six furlongs in 1:10.21 over a fast track.

“We sat a good trip on the outside and I just let her get in a nice rhythm,” Geroux said. “When I needed her to go, she responded very well.”

The winner of last winter’s $300,000 La Brea (GI) at Santa Anita, Usha was making the second start of her 4-year-old season after finishing third behind R Disaster and Ways and Means in the $923,000 Derby City Distaff presented by Ford (GI) on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

Unlike the Derby City Distaff where she broke from the rail, Usha had a more comfortable outside draw from post six in the field of seven fillies and mares. As Foie Gras went to the front through an opening quarter mile in :22.86, Usha tracked off her right hip a half-length back before asserting herself to the front leaving the turn and clocking a half-mile in :45.62. Usha and Foie Gras battled gamely through the stretch as multiple stakes-winning 6-year-old mare Zeitlos found her best stride late with a strong rally from last to just miss.

“(Usha) didn’t draw well in the Derby City Distaff and was a little intimidated down on the inside,” Baffert said. “Today, she got a nice post and liked that better being on the outside. She was still looking around a bit down the lane. I’ve thought about putting blinkers on her, but that might make her a little too rank. I think she’ll get better with time. She’s improving and I think seven-eighths of a mile is a good distance for her. As horses get older, they can run farther as long as they relax. Today, with her not being intimidated, I thought she ran really well.”

          The victory was worth $121,520 and boosted Usha’s earnings to $539,870 from a record of 4-2-3 in 10 starts.

          Usha was the 2-1 second betting choice and returned $6.88, $4.54 and $3.24. Zeitlos, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. at odds of 13-1, paid $9.10 and $5.54. Foie Gras, at 5-1 under Ricardo Santana Jr., returned $3.74. One Magic Philly finished fourth and was followed by Jersey Pearl, Dare to Fly and slight 2-1 favorite Kapoor, who was fractious behind the gate and got away a step slow. Spring Dancer was scratched.

Usha is a 4-year-old daughter of Tiz the Law out of the Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) mare Animal Appeal and was bred in New York by Esler & Raine.

The Winning Colors is named in honor of Eugene Klein’s Winning Colors, the most recent filly to have won the Kentucky Derby when she beat the boys in the 114th running of the Run for the Roses in 1988 for the Hall of Fame tandem of trainer Wayne Lukas and jockey Gary Stevens.

          After dark days Tuesday and Wednesday, racing will return to Churchill Downs for the eight-race Twilight Thursday program. First post is 5 p.m. (all times Eastern). For more information and to purchase tickets, visitwww.ChurchillDowns.com.

WINNING COLORS QUOTES

Florent Geroux, jockey, Usha, winner: “I’m very thankful for the opportunity from Bob (Baffert) and the owners – they had her ready to go. We sat a good trip on the outside and I just let her get in a nice rhythm. When I needed her to go, she responded very well.”

Bob Baffert, trainer, Usha, winner: “She didn’t draw well in the Derby City Distaff and was a little intimidated down on the inside. Today, she got a nice post and liked that better being on the outside. She was still looking around a bit down the lane. I’ve thought about putting blinkers on her, but that might make her a little too rank. I think she’ll get better with time. She’s improving and I think seven-eighths of a mile is a good distance for her. As horses get older, they can run farther as long as they relax. Today, with her not being intimidated, I thought she ran really well.”