Letruska, Lady Apple top field of seven in Houston Ladies Classic

Letruska and Lady Apple were among seven fillies and mares entered Sunday for the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston Race Park.

The 1 1/16-mile race will be run Jan. 31. It is the richest offering of the meet and will be supported by five other stakes, including the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup, which drew 12.

Letruska won the Grade 3 Rampart at Gulfstream Park in her last start Dec. 12. Lady Apple is looking for her second straight win in the Houston Ladies Classic.

The complete field from the rail with riders is: Motion Emotion, Miguel Mena; Jeweled Princess, Reylu Gutierrez; Ujjayi, Rafael Hernandez; Lady Apple, Stewart Elliott; Figure It Out, Lane Luzzi; Shes Our Fastest, Ry Eikleberry; and Letruska, Jesus Castanon.

:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.

The special Sunday card will have a post of 1:45 p.m. Central. The Houston Ladies Classic goes as the eighth race on a 10-race program. Post for the feature is 5:32 p.m. Central.

Trainer Mike Maker has three horses entered in the Connally, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for 4-year-olds and up that he has won seven times. He will send out Ajourneytofreedom, Conviction Trade, and Marzo.

The $200,000 Texas Turf Mile for 3-year-olds drew 14, with two of those runners on the also-eligible list at Sam Houston.

Keith Jones, the longtime announcer who recently retired from Parx Racing, will be on hand as an analyst for the Houston Ladies Classic card, according to Frank Hopf, senior director of racing operations for Sam Houston.