Ujjayi to get her shot on Aqueduct's Kentucky Oaks trail
The Pennsylvania-bred Ujjayi will now look to establish herself as a contender for the Kentucky Oaks when she bursts from the gate in Aqueduct's March 9 Busher Invitational, a $250,000 qualifying race.
Trained by Erin McClellan for owner-breeder T.L. Wise, she earned her first stakes score Jan. 27 at the Big A when besting a field of seven in the Ruthless.
"She's doing better than ever. She came out of the race up there in good order. The Busher is a race we're interested in and it will be a good test," said McClellan.
The lightly-raced daughter of Smarty Jones has posted a record of two wins and two seconds from four starts, with her Ruthless score coming in her third start off a layoff after finishing second twice in stakes events to the undefeated Please Flatter Me.
Her rail-skimming stakes score is flattered by the fact that the filly was unable to train extensively into the Ruthless due to inclement weather that closed the track at her home base at Penn National.
"To her credit, she was able to handle being on the inside, over a little deeper surface than here and she was pretty game," said McClellan. "That said, it was probably the first race she ran where she was completely tight and ready to run. Even though we couldn't train, she had the bottom in her.
"She showed us that she has so much grit and so much heart," continued McClellan. "She just didn't want to give it up."
McClellan will use the Busher, a one-turn mile, as an opportunity to stretch her filly out while she tries to get a handle on just how far Ujjayi can carry her speed with the nine-furlong Kentucky Oaks as a long-term dream.
"In terms of the Oaks, she'll really have to prove she can go a route then, but with the Busher at a mile, I think that will suit her," said McClellan. "I love that it's one turn. As far as company goes, it will be a tougher race but it's still a good stepping stone race. With the exception of ones that are absolute freaks, I think horses need that progression."
The Ruthless score was only the second stakes win for McClellan and the first for owner-breeder Wise. McClellan noted that Wise has already turned down a significant offer for the filly as the duo continue to point to Grade 1 glory in Kentucky.
"My owner, that's his dream, and whether we're good enough to get there I don't know. He's turned down a lot of money for the filly already, but I think he wants to keep her and go for his dream," said McClellan.
McClellan, who picked up her first stakes win last year at Delaware Park in the Strike Your Colors with Well Graced, said she is enjoying the challenge of determining just how talented Ujjayi is.
"It's hard for me to gauge what I really have, because I've never had one like this before. So, you wonder, how good is she really? I'm not a pessimistic person. I'm actually very optimistic, but I'm a realist too. I'm almost afraid to believe we really have something that could be that good, but I hope we do," said McClellan.
The conditioner said that having a filly of this caliber has lifted the spirits of her entire barn.
"It's been great for everyone. I'm excited for Luis Negrieros who grooms her," said McClellan. "He's an old school horseman and has worked with bigger horses before but gave it up stay here and have a family. He loves her. He's all in."
With the Busher Invitational circled on her calendar, McClellan said that Ujjayi is expected to return to the work tab over the weekend.
"She two-minute licked on Monday. I toyed with breezing her and went with a two-minute lick instead, and she did that very handily. I'm hoping we'll see a work for her on Sunday," said McClellan.