The Usual Q. T. wins fifth in a row in Hollywood Derby

The Usual Q. T. lit up the Hollywood Derby (Benoit Photos) THE USUAL Q. T. (Unusual Heat) continued his hot streak in Sunday’s $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1), surging to the lead in the stretch and drawing off to record his fifth straight victory. The Jim Cassidy trainee, who had just held off Battle of Hastings (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) by a head in the Oak Tree Derby (G2) last time out, extended his margin to an emphatic 1 1/2 lengths over that same rival on Sunday. With Victor Espinoza aboard, The Usual Q. T. rattled off 1 1/4 miles on the firm turf in 1:59 3/5 and paid $11.40, $5 and $4 as the co-second choice at 9-2. In so doing, the late bloomer confirmed his rapid rise through the divisional ranks. A late nominee to the Hollywood Derby, The Usual Q. T. defeated a field bristling with established performers who had been knocking heads for much of the season. Shortly after the gate opened, the speedy Straight Story (Giant’s Causeway) went to the lead and established fractions of :24 2/5 and :48 1/5. Acclamation (Unusual Heat), a 75-1 longshot, stalked in second, and The Usual Q. T. drafted in third. Acclamation turned up the pressure on Straight Story while reaching six furlongs in 1:12 4/5.

As the pacesetter threw in the towel, Acclamation struck the front, getting
one mile in 1:36 3/5 and maintaining a narrow lead in the stretch. Before
Acclamation could make good on his threat to pull an upset, The Usual Q. T. was
gearing up on the outside. The winner’s rally proved overpowering as he pulled
clear of the field and never looked like being caught.

The 5-2 favorite Battle of Hastings, who had lagged well off the early pace,
closed belatedly to grab second by a half-length. The runner-up returned $4 and
$2.80. Acclamation saved third by a nose from the late-running Al Khali (Medaglia
d’Oro) and rewarded his supporters with $18.60 to show. The $1 exotics were
worth $21.20 (exacta), $599.20 (trifecta) and $5,541.70 (2-10-8-6 superfecta).
Rescue Squad (Dynaformer), Meteore (Pulpit), Take the Points (Even the Score),
Black Bear Island (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), Straight Story, Sal the Barber
(Alphabet Soup), Sir Al (Ire) (Desert Prince [Ire]) and Blazing Spirit (Cherokee
Run) completed the order of finish.

The Usual Q. T., who is unbeaten going two turns on turf, has compiled a
career mark of 10-5-4-0, $456,670. 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 in his only
loss on the surface. After two unsuccessful efforts on Hollywood’s Cushion
Track, Cassidy put him back on turf and sent him two turns, and he has not lost
since.

The Usual Q. T.’s winning streak commenced with a good-looking maiden score
over state-breds at Del Mar. He then sailed through an allowance/optional
claimer by four lengths at the same course and one-mile distance. Stepping up in
class next time, The Usual Q. T. defeated older stakes rivals in the California
Cup Mile H. at Santa Anita. He thereby earned his way into graded company in the
aforementioned Oak Tree Derby, and rose to the occasion in his first try at nine
furlongs. The Hollywood Derby offered another set of challenges, as a Grade 1
event at 1 1/4 miles, but The Usual Q. T. handled it with his usual aplomb.

Bred by Carlee Van Kempen in the Golden State, The Usual Q. T. is owned by
Don Van Racing, Nentwig, Saadeh and Byer. He 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 Iron Zeyde
(Iron Cat), an unnamed yearling colt by Bertrando and a weanling filly by
Benchmark. Further back, this is the family of Today ‘n Tomorrow (Olympiad
King), hero of the 1977 Sunset H. (G1) and San Bernardino H. (G2).