By Alan Carasso
When last seen at the races as the 17-10 favorite in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff in early November, Letruska (Super Saver) had absolutely nothing go her way, as she attended a suicidal pace and unsurprisingly folded, beating just one rival home. Having since been rewarded with the Eclipse Award for her total body of work in 2021, the St. George homebred returned to action in Saturday's GIII Royal Delta S. and made very light work of five grossly overmatched rivals.
Kicked straight into the lead by Jose Ortiz, Letruska crossed down onto the rail and relaxed nicely on the engine through an opening quarter-mile that was clocked in a comfortable :24.39. Able to ration her speed evenly through the middle furlongs, Letruska was confidently handled around the turn as she continued to build an imposing advantage and glided home ears-pricked and never out of a high gallop to get back to her winning ways.
Letruska became a household name with a battling defeat of multiple champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in last year's GI Apple Blossom H. and she promptly added front-running tallies in the GI Ogden Phipps S. and GII Fleur de Lis S. A game half-length winner of the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga last August, the bay led them on a merry chase in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. Oct. 10, but attended the wicked early fractions in the Distaff and hung around to the top of the lane before hoisting the white flag. A return trip to Hot Springs for the Apple Blossom is in the cards, trainer Fausto Gutierrez said following the victory.
Pedigree Notes:
Letruska's dam, third for Cobra Farm and Stan Hough in the 2009 GII Adirondack S., is a full-sister to GI Del Mar Futurity winner J P's Gusto and was purchased by St. George Farm for $100,000 carrying the filly that would become Letruska at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale. Magic Appeal is also the dam of the once-raced Ocotzingo (Hard Spun), the 2-year-old colt Prudencio (Arrogate) and a yearling filly by Malibu Moon. She was most recently covered by Curlin.
ROYAL DELTA S.-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 2-26, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:43.43, ft.
1–LETRUSKA, 123, m, 6, by Super Saver
1st Dam: Magic Appeal (GSP), by Successful Appeal
2nd Dam: Call Her Magic, by Caller I. D.
3rd Dam: Malibu Magic, by Encino
O/B-St. George Stable LLC; T-Fausto Gutierrez; J-Jose L. Ortiz $92,070. Lifetime Record: Ch. Older Female, Ch. 3yo Filly-Mex, MGISW, 24-18-1-1, $2,348,529. *1/2 to Trigger Warning (Candy Ride (ARG)) MSW & GISP, $555,378. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Into Vanishing, 118, f, 4, Into Mischief–Vanishing, by Lemon Drop Kid. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Augustin Stable; B-George Strawbridge (KY); T-Jonathan Thomas. $29,700.
3–Il Malocchio, 120, f, 4, Souper Speedy–Egbert Bay, by Sligo Bay (Ire). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Franco S. Meli; B-Franco Meli (ON); T-Martin Drexler. $14,850.
Margins: 3, 3/4, 1HF. Odds: 0.10, 31.50, 26.80.
Also Ran: Crazy Beautiful, Key Biscayne, Helping Lisa D. Scratched: Family Time.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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