The Usual Q.T. takes Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) - Heavy favorite The Usual Q.T. used a blazing final furlong for an easy victory in the $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza for trainer James Cassidy, The Usual Q.T. sat third in the field of seven older horses in the early going of the Grade 1 Eddie Read, took the lead in mid-stretch and beat Victor's Cry by two lengths, covering 1 1-8 miles on turf in 1:47.28.

The Usual Q.T. paid $4.80, $3.20 and $2.60. Victor's Cry paid $5 and $3.60. Enriched paid $3.40 to show.

A 4-year-old gelding bred in California, The Usual Q.T. won his first race at Del Mar a year ago, and has since used victories in the Oak Tree Derby and Hollywood Derby to become one of the nation's top horses on grass.

“He's learned to relax,” Espinoza said, “it's made all the difference for him.”

The win was the eighth in 15 starts for The Usual Q.T. He earned $180,000 and nearly reached millionaire status, taking his career total to $993,320.

Earlier, Lilly Fa Pootz rallied from sixth to beat Burg Berg by a head to win the $75,000 Osunitas Stakes for fillies and mares by a head.

A 5-year-old mare ridden by Joe Talamo, Lilly Fa Pootz covered 1 1-16 miles on turf in 1:42.27 and paid $15.20, $6.60 and $4.40. Burg Berg paid $5.40 and $4. Theodora was just a nose back in third and paid $5.40.

The favorite, U R All That I Am, was briefly second in the stretch but faded to fifth.