Letruska shows she's as good as ever in allowance win

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The multiple Group 1 winner Letruska remained unbeaten on dirt after winning her 4-year-old debut impressively last Thursday at Oaklawn Park.

Letruska, who invaded from South Florida for the allowance route for fillies and mares, wired the field while covering a mile and a sixteenth in a sharp 1:42.38 and earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 94.

“She ran very, very good,” trainer Fausto Gutierrez said Saturday. “She made a big performance.”

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Letruska has now won 8 of 9 career starts, with her dirt wins coming at Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico City, Gulfstream Park and now Oaklawn.

A champion in Mexico after winning two-thirds of the country’s Triple Crown for fillies, she made her U.S. debut in December, defeating older male rivals over a mile and a quarter in the Copa Invitacional del Caribe at Gulfstream.

Letruska ran a mile in 1:37.60 in last year’s Group 1 Esmeralda at Hipdromo de las Americas.

“It’s a very fast time on that track, especially for 3-year-old fillies,” said Gutierrez.

Letruska, a homebred for St. George Stable, was flown to Oaklawn after a suitable overnight race could not be found at Gulfstream. Gutierrez said the plan for her is to remain in Arkansas through the close of the meet May 2.

“If possible, we want to try to run her again,” said Gutierrez.

Letruska next month will return to Palm Meadows training center in Florida. Gutierrez is looking forward to what’s ahead given the strong field she defeated at Oaklawn.

“This was a very important race for her,” he said. “She has the quality and the age, now at 4, to have a good year.

“I think she needs long distance – for sure on the dirt.”