Pretty Rachel a popular item at the claim box

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It’s not very often a trainer wins a 20-way shake less than a year after he or she has won a 21-way shake.

Then again, it’s not very often a horse will win nine races in a row when it is entered for a claiming tag.

A confluence of those racing rarities occurred Saturday at Gulfstream Park when trainer Steve Klesaris claimed Pretty Rachel from an 8 1/4-length romp in an $8,000 claiming sprint. It was the ninth time in 10 races since last May that the 4-year-old Dominus filly had emerged a winner, with her only defeat during that span coming in the Claiming Crown Glass Slipper in December.

“She sure knows how to win,” said Klesaris. “A real pro.”

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Klesaris claimed Pretty Rachel on behalf of owner Jose Gallegos, his current assistant at Gulfstream. Gallegos trained on his own from 1991-2014 and from 2018 until he ran his most recent starter in October. Klesaris said he was unsure when Pretty Rachel will race next.

“She needs a little time between races,” said Klesaris, who has won more than 1,700 races in a career dating to 1979.

On July 29, Klesaris won a 21-way shake for The Queens Jules out of an easy win for $12,500 at Saratoga. He lost her four weeks later for $32,000.

A “shake” is what results when more than one entity has submitted a claim for a horse. Numbered pills are assigned to every would-be claim, with the winning pill being pulled from a bottle.

Pretty Rachel, bred in Kentucky by John Liviakis, now has won 11 of 21 career starts. She has been claimed from seven of her last 10 races when entered for a tag, not counting when a claim was voided following a June 13 win. She won Saturday for owner-trainer Pedro Garcia, who had her for just one race. Since April, her previous trainers had been Juan Avila, E.T. Broome, Saul Matos, Armando De La Cerda, Kent Sweezey, and Peter Walder.

“She’s been a prize for anybody that’s touched her,” said Klesaris.

Ortiz, Lopez held blameless

Star jockeys Irad Ortiz Jr. and Paco Lopez both avoided suspensions following disqualifications of their mounts in separate races last weekend at Gulfstream.

Wicked Fast, ridden by Ortiz in the seventh race Friday, was disqualified from first to second for deep-stretch interference on the turf. Yeguita Queen, ridden by Lopez in the fourth Saturday, was taken down from second to fifth for deep-stretch interference on the main track.

Letruska in fine fettle

Letruska, the champion filly-mare dirt runner of 2021, will be heavily favored here Saturday with Irad Ortiz riding when she makes her 6-year-old debut in the lone stakes of the weekend, the Grade 3 Royal Delta at 1 1/16 miles.

Letruska struck an imposing presence schooling in the Gulfstream paddock during the second race Saturday. “I am very happy with her,” said trainer Fausto Gutierrez.