In a display of resilience, New York-bred Usha cruised to a 5 1/4-length victory in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (G1) Dec. 28 at Santa Anita Park, becoming the first grade 1 winner bred by Kristen and Matt Esler. The top-level victory was especially sentimental as it occurred while Kristen was in the midst of recovering from major spinal surgery, making Usha's authoritative performance in the 7-furlong race a comeback story for both horse and breeder.
"I was still very much in the difficult part of my recovery watching that race, not being able to jump up and down and scream, but it was really exciting," Kristen Esler said.
The Eslers operate Thirty Year Farm near Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Kristen, a retired executive from the medical industry, and Matt, who is CEO of Esler Companies, purchased the farm in 2018 on their 30th wedding anniversary, hence, the nom de course of their farm. They currently own 14 broodmares and have not only fulfilled their lifelong dream of being involved in the Thoroughbred industry, but have also created a name that is respected beyond the New York circuit.
Kristen said that when her husband was about 17, he was selling t-shirts at Saratoga Race Course. They grew that business, and that's what sparked their love of horses.
"We both fell deeply in love, and we put in an offer for the farm on our 30th wedding anniversary," she said. "It was really his lifelong dream, and it became mine right along with him, and once we found this place, there was no going back. It's absolutely beautiful."
Usha was bred by the Eslers and Jeff Raine, who was their farm manager and consultant. Esler said Raine came aboard as soon as they started the farm, and was there the day they bought Usha's dam Animal Appeal, a stakes-placed daughter of Leroidesanimaux for $35,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
Esler said Usha was special from day one, noting she was up in no time after her birth.
"From the word go, she was strong, furious, smart, stubborn, and fast," she said. "She always had to be the fastest in her paddock, always had to be the leader. On top of it all, she was super affectionate, so we loved her. The team just adored her, and that face of hers—so cute. Her nickname was Tizzy, and we were just enamored."
The Eslers sold Usha at Fasig-Tipton's New York-bred Yearling Sale in 2023 for just $30,000 to Bella Racing. The daughter from the first crop of Tiz the Law brought significantly less than they believed the filly was worth.
"She did not sell for what we thought she would," Esler said. "We were very bummed about it."
Despite her low price tag as a yearling, the May-born filly blossomed during her 2-year-old year, selling for $600,000 after breezing a furlong in a speedy :09 4/5, at the Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. She was sold to the Three Amigos partnership of Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. The trio has campaigned many grade 1 winners, including Hoppertunity, Lookin At Lucky, McKinzie , and Nevada Beach, among others.
"We knew she was fast, we knew she was really smart," Esler said. "It's one of those things you almost kick yourself for not keeping her, but we're building this program, and we're building this farm; our goal was to sell and reinvest."
Usha got off to a slow start in her juvenile season, finishing second or third in her first four attempts at breaking her maiden. It wasn't until last July that she put it together, winning a maiden special weight at Del Mar by 11 1/2 lengths. Following that effort, trainer Bob Baffert ran her in an allowance optional claiming race in September, where she once again crushed her opponents, winning by 5 1/4 lengths.
She finished seventh in her first try against graded stakes company, the Raven Run Stakes (G2) at Keeneland in October. Baffert had noted she lost her cool in the paddock that day, most likely sapping a lot of her energy. Two months later, the chestnut filly flashed her brilliance once again when winning the La Brea and becoming the first grade 1 winner for Tiz the Law.
Esler said the goals for her and her husband are simple: to continue breeding successful racehorses. They have spent a lot of time researching and learning the industry, a never-ending process.
"The unfortunate thing we saw over the last few years is that the lower end of the market really seemed to go away, and the middle market is risking so much," Esler explained. "It's so difficult to get that right, so we invested in higher-level mares, and we've invested in really strong families that we're breeding and trying to create sound individuals.
"I hope our plan works. It seems like over the last few years, we're really making some strides."
The Eslers are expecting a high-quality crop this season with foals by Good Magic , Justify , McKinzie, Practical Joke , among others, in the pipeline.
"I think (more graded stakes winners) are coming," Esler said.
That the industry is full of ups and downs, such as selling the mare of Usha before the aforementioned filly came to fruition, is one of the many lessons the couple has learned.
"You handle the bad news, and wait for the good news," she said.
