By Christina Bossinakis
St. George Stable LLC's Letruska (Super Saver) has proven near invincible since turning five and will try to add her sixth graded victory in Saturday's GII Fleur De Lis S. at Churchill Downs, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar this fall. Winner of last summer's nine-furlong GIII Suvee S., the bay later kicked off a two-race win skein when taking Gulfstream's GIII Rampart S. Dec. 12 before adding the Jan. 31 GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. A desperate head behind GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) in the Mar. 13 GII Azeri S., she came right back to nose out dual champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) and third-place finisher GI Preakness S. heroine Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 17. Avenging her Azeri loss, she bounced home an easy winner over Bonny South (Munnings) with Shedaresthedevil back in third.
“She's in a good condition to run,” said trainer Fausto Gutierrez. “This is a very important race. We're going step by step for now and this is next race we had in mind. I know it's just 21 days from the [Ogden Phipps]. When a horse wants to run and they're ready to run, we have to let them run. She's at Keeneland training and we're looking forward to getting her to Churchill.”
Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Envoutante (Uncle Mo) will try to punch her own ticket to the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Saturday. Winner of the GIII Remington Park Oaks and GII Falls City S. last term, she was fourth in the Azeri before finishing second to Shedaresthedevil in the Apr. 30 GI La Troienne S. Most recently, the dark bay strolled home a facile 4 1/4-length winner in Churchill's Shawnee S. May 29.
Robert and Lawana Low's Spice Is Nice (Curlin) has shown mixed form since her sparkling career debut at Gulfstream in January of 2020. Earning TDN Rising Star status following her 12-length triumph in that one-mile event, the daughter of Grade I winner Dame Dorothy (Bernardini) was runner up in the GII Davona Dale S. next before checking in fifth in the 8 1/2-furlong GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. Given a softer place to land for her return in a Belmont optional claimer in July, the chestnut responded with a 2 3/4-length win for trainer Todd Pletcher, but failed to carry that through next time out when a well-beaten sixth in last summer's GI Alabama S. Freshened for this season, she took an 8 1/2-furlong optional claimer at Keeneland in April before making it two straight in Pimlico's May 14 GIII Allaire DuPont Distaff S. over nine panels.
If anyone can benefit from a potential early speed duel it is Alpha Delta Stables' Point of Honor (Curlin). While winless since taking the 2019 GII Black-Eyed Susan S., the chestnut has hit the board in seven of eight starts since, including seconds in the GI Ogden Phipps S. and GII Beldame S. and thirds in the GI Personal Ensign S. and GI Apple Blossom S. In her latest trip to post, she rallied late to be sixth–beaten 4 1/2 lengths–in last November's Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland.
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