2021 Breeders' Cup Distaff: Letruska goes from late developer to leader of the pack
It seems odd to label Letruska as a late developer. After all, she began her career 7 for 7, and won 11 of her first 15 starts including Group 1s in Mexico City and Grade 3s in the United States.
But this year at age 5, Letruska did change, from above average to exceptional, winning graded stakes at four tracks including three Grade 1s. Late developer? Perhaps. As for her label this fall – Letruska is the early favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, listed at 2-1 on the preliminary line by Daily Racing Form.
“She’s the perfect age this year. She has more mentality for travel and competition,” trainer Fausto Gutierrez said this week. “This year, she improved and improved.”
This year, Letruska won 5 of 6 racing at Sam Houston, Oaklawn Park, Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, and Saratoga. She trains at Keeneland, where she will race for the first time Oct. 10 in the Grade 1 Spinster, her final Breeders’ Cup prep. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Letruska, a front-runner who has carried her speed to Grade 1 victories in the Apple Blossom, Ogden Phipps, and Personal Ensign.
“She’s a horse with a nice combination of speed and long distance,” Gutierrez said. “She’s really strong, in very good form.”
Letruska worked a bullet half-mile on Sept. 25; she works again Saturday. Letruska, by Super Saver, has won 16 races and $1,936,459 from 21 starts for owner-breeder St. George Stables.
While Letruska starts once more into the Distaff, Shedaresthedevil and Malathaat have completed their preps. Brad Cox trains Midwest-based Shedaresthedevil, the only runner this year to defeat Letruska. Shedaresthedevil won the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, defeated Letruska this spring in the Grade 2 Azeri, and shipped to Del Mar this summer to win the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch.
Malathaat, the nation’s top 3-year-old filly, scored a convincing win Aug. 21 in the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga for Todd Pletcher and will enter the Distaff off a 77-day layoff. Winner of the Kentucky Oaks, Malathaat has won 6 of 7. Shedaresthedevil and Malathaat are second and third choices on DRF’s early odds line for the Distaff.
Clairiere, the Alabama runner-up who finished behind Malathaat in three meetings this year, scored her first Grade 1 last weekend in the Cotillion at Parx Racing and is aiming to the Distaff.
Blue Stripe is the only other top-10 Distaff contender whose preps are complete. Blue Stripe won a Win and You’re In Grade 1 in Argentina in May, arrived in the United States soon after, and will run in the Distaff off a six-month layoff. She has won 4 of 6.
This week’s lone Distaff prep is the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita. The race is expected to include graded winner As Time Goes By, unplaced in her last two starts, and 3-year-old Private Mission. Both are trained by Bob Baffert. Zenyatta candidates include Lady Kate, Miss Bigly, California Kook, and Samurai Charm. The status of 2020 Zenyatta winner Harvest Moon, unraced since spring, is pending.
The final two Distaff preps are Oct. 10 – the Spinster and Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont Park. Letruska could face Bonny South and Envoutante in the Spinster. Nominees to the Beldame include 2020 Beldame winner Horologist and Royal Flag.