Beldame Stakes next for Letruska

ELMONT, N.Y. – Letruska, who won the Grade 3 Shuvee at Saratoga, worked five furlongs in 59.67 seconds Friday morning over Belmont Park’s main track in preparation for a start in the Grade 2, $150,000 Beldame Stakes on Oct. 4.

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It was Letruska’s second work at Belmont since the Shuvee. Trainer Fausto Gutierrez liked what he saw and said he the likes the one-turn 1 1/8-mile configuration of the Beldame.

“I like that a lot,” he said. “It’s a combination between sprint and distance.

Prior to running Letruska in the Shuvee, a two-turn 1 1/8-mile race, Gutierrez tried her in the Grade 1 Ballerina at seven furlongs. The pace was exquisitely fast that day and Letruska could not keep up, finishing fifth of seven. She was able to get away with a slower pace in the Shuvee, which she won on the front end.

“I don’t think she’s a speed horse that can run seven furlongs like that,” said Gutierrez, referring to the 43.74-second half-mile fraction of the Ballerina. “She has speed, but she needs distance.”

Though Joel Rosario rode Letruska in the Shuvee, he is out of town Oct. 4. Gutierrez said he may tab Kendrick Carmouche to ride Letruska in the Beldame.

Others pointing to the Beldame include Dunbar Road, Horologist, Nonna Madeline, and Point of Honor.