Letruska leads them gate to wire in Ogden Phipps
ELMONT, N.Y. – Letruska, who has steadily climbed the ranks of the filly and mare handicap division since her one-sided victory in the Grade 3 Rampart at Gulfstream Park in her 2020 finale, took yet another step up with a relatively easy 2 3/4-length victory over Bonny South in Saturday’s Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park. The race lost some of its luster due to the scratches of Grade 1 winners Swiss Skydiver and Valiance.
Letruska’s improvement has coincided with the decision by trainer Fausto Gutierrez to remove blinkers from her equipment prior to the Rampart. The Phipps was her fourth win in five starts since Gutierrez made the change, a streak that included a hard-fought nose decision over champion Monomoy Girl seven weeks earlier in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park. Her only setback over the last six months came when she was defeated a head by Shedaresthedevil in the Grade 2 Azeri this winter at Oaklawn. A loss she avenged Saturday.
Letruska’s triumph also repeated an ongoing theme over the past 24 hours – jockey Jose Ortiz winning a graded stakes after replacing his injured brother Irad as the rider. On Friday, Jose Ortiz scored aboard Firenze Fire in the Grade 2 True North and continued on Saturday’s program with Letruska and Drain the Clock in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens.
Letruska, as she has done in the majority of her races, broke alertly and sprinted right to the lead. She controlled the early running under careful rating by Ortiz while stalked from the outset by her nemesis Shedaresthedevil. Letruska disposed of that rival after six furlongs, settled into the stretch with a comfortable advantage while kept well off the rail by Ortiz, and was never seriously menaced thereafter.
Bonny South was reserved near the rear of the field, angled wider into the stretch, rallied mildly, but was no match for the winner. Shedaresthedevil finished another length further back in third. Queen Nekia and Water White were well beaten, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
Letruska, who began her career in Mexico, has posted 14 victories in 19 starts. Owned by her breeder, St. George Stable, she paid $4.40 after covering 1 1/16 miles around one turn in 1:41.25. She earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure in the Phipps, a point higher than in the Apple Blossom.
“This is Group 1s back to back, she showed the potential she has, this is a speed horse who can go the long distance,” Gutierrez said. “Today she confirmed what we saw in the Apple Blossom. Without the blinkers, she has the chance to relax. She’s progressed with age and since taking the blinkers off. Before she never saw the other horses. She has the class, she likes to run, to be the leader.”
The Phipps also marked the first time Letruska had raced without Lasix since early in her 3-year-old campaign in Mexico.
“This was a big point because all of the other fillies had raced without Lasix before,” Gutierrez noted. “This is the first time we had to cross that situation [in the United States] running without Lasix. She’s not a bleeder really, but it was a question mark, especially with this heat. We didn’t know how she’d respond. But she ran great.”
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Guttierez said his main focus now would be on the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, with no immediate plans for Letruska’s next start.
Ortiz said he was not surprised that many of his brother’s mounts were winning big races over the weekend.
“He’s the best rider in the country right now, he’s riding the best horses,” Jose Ortiz said. “I’m sure he feels bad seeing these horses win, but on the other hand he feels good, he’s healthy, he’s got nothing broken, he’s just a little sore.”