Letruska takes Rampart, Lady's Island wins Sugar Swirl

Two Grade 3 stakes for fillies and mares were won in gate-to-wire fashion by jockey Emisael Jaramillo early on a busy Saturday card at Gulfstream Park, although the sweep came in very different ways.

Some 60 minutes after Letruska won off by herself in the Rampart, Lady’s Island not only held on to narrowly prevail in the Sugar Swirl in a frantic four-way finish, but also had to survive a stewards’ inquiry and a jockey’s objection in doing so. Both races were run with fields of six over a fast main track.

Letruska ($5) wins Rampart

Sent away the slight 3-2 favorite, Letruska and Jaramillo dominated from the start of the $100,000 Rampart, putting away their closest pursuer, Bajan Girl, in the upper stretch before drawing off to a 6 3/4-length triumph.

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A two-back winner of the Grade 3 Shuvee at Saratoga in late August, Letruska was shedding blinkers and rebounding from a distant fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont Park in early October. The 4-year-old Super Saver filly is trained by Fausto Gutierrez for her owner-breeder, the St George Stable LLC.

“This was very important,” Gutierrez said. “It was a very good performance.”

Dream Marie was along for second, three-quarters of a length before Bajan Girl, the 9-5 second choice in a field of six. Sally’s Curlin, the 5-2 third choice, was never a threat when fifth.

Letruska began her career with six straight wins in Mexico and now has won 11 of 15 starts overall, including all three on the main track at Gulfstream. She completed the one-turn mile in 1:35.03.

Lady’s Island ($11) a Sugar Swirl repeater

Lady’s Island sped off to a clear lead in the six-furlong Sugar Swirl before lasting by a diminishing head over Bronx Beauty, one of three opponents who came charging late. The 6-year-old Florida-bred mare drifted out several paths when tiring in the final 70 yards, but the Gulfstream stewards cleared her and Jaramillo of wrongdoing following a lengthy inquiry.

“We got lucky today,” said Rich Averill, who co-owns Lady’s Island with Matties Racing. “I was kind of surprised she got the lead as easy as she did. It’s always good to win a race like this.”

Lady’s Island became a repeat winner of the Sugar Swirl, having captured the 2019 renewal by 6 3/4 lengths. Averill has placed her with several different trainers since claiming her for a mere $16,000 in June 2018, with Georgina Baxter having reassumed her care in recent weeks.

Lady’s Island returned $11 as fourth choice after finishing in 1:10.46. The dark bay daughter of Greatness now has won a remarkable 17 of 34 starts, with 13 of those wins coming since the claim.

Bronx Beauty, ridden by Luis Saez, surged late to get second by three-quarters of a length over Cinnabunny, the 11-10 favorite, with Sound Machine just another neck back in fourth.