Letruska far from only stakes winner in Thursday feature

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Letruska is the most accomplished member of the field in Thursday’s ninth race as a two-time Group 1 winner who has never been beaten on dirt in eight main-track starts.

But the optional $75,000 claiming route for fillies and mares at a mile is no easy spot, said her trainer, Fausto Gutierrez.

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“It’s like a stakes,” he said.

Indeed.

The field of nine includes Grade 3 winners Blamed, Fighting Mad, and Vexatious, as well as stakes winners Vault, Beach Flower, and Motion Emotion.

The card Thursday ushers in the final week of the Oaklawn meet, which ends Saturday with the running of two $500,000 divisions of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Letruska, by Super Saver

Last 3 Beyers: 94-48-83

◗ She launched her 4-year-old season April 16 at Oaklawn with a wire-to-wire win in an optional $50,000 claiming route. Letruska flew in from South Florida for the 1 1/16-mile race, and Gutierrez and owner St George Stable decided to keep her in town for one more start with limited racing opportunities due to the coronavirus.

“We have this race, this condition, to run,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of options.

“She has to run after 15 days. I hope she can make a good effort. She’s in good form.”

◗ The Beyer of 94 that Letruska earned at Oaklawn is the best last-race number in the field Thursday. She could face more pace pressure this time around from Fighting Mad, who worked five-eighths in 58.80 seconds for her first start since winning the Grade 3 Torrey Pines in August at Del Mar, and Blamed, who has been sprinting at Gulfstream Park.

“I think she has one style,” Gutierrez said of Letruska. “She has to run. I think she’s a speed horse in the long distances.”

◗ Gutierrez said Letruska won both of her Group 1 races on the lead last year at Hippodromo de las Americas in Mexico City. She also wired the field in the Copa Invitacional del Caribe at Gulfstream in December. He added she should like the configuration of Thursday’s race, with mile races ending at the sixteenth pole at Oaklawn.

◗ Stewart Elliott has the mount from post 4.

Blamed, by Blame

Last 3 Beyers: 68-90-35

◗ She is moving back to two turns for the first time since her win in the Grade 3 Comely over 1 1/8 miles in November 2018 at Aqueduct.

◗ Blamed will remove blinkers Thursday after setting a quick pace and finishing ninth in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie on March 14 at Oaklawn.

◗ Joe Talamo has the mount from post 8 for Cleber Massey and trainer Bill Mott.