For Letruska, making her third start at Oaklawn, for once without stop-and-go traffic, this was almost like catching Central Avenue with all-green signal lights.
With the 6-year-old’s triumph Saturday in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap, put Letruska’s name, if not already, among the greatest older fillies and mares to race in Hot Springs.
By a length and a quarter under 124 pounds, she beat Steve Asmussen-trained 4-year-old Clariere with another half-length over two-time Oaklawn graded winner Ce Ce, those two at 121. When a fourth Grade 1 winner, like 4-year-old Maracuja, finishes 17 1/2 lengths out of the show spot in fourth, you get some idea of the competition. Miss Imperial (27 3/4 lengths back) got her name announced in the post parade, jogging in after stopping in the stretch.
Apple Blossom Day at Oaklawn produced an Apple Blossom time, 1:42.22. No one has won the race with a faster 8 1/2 furlongs since Plum Pretty went 1:42.64 in 2014. Before that, it was future Horse of the Year Havre Grace (1:42.19) in 2011. More and more, Heatherten’s track record of 1:40.20 in the 1984 race appears unassailable.
With an appearance and victory next year, Letruska can join Azeri (2002-04) as the only three-time winners of the Grade 1 race. It’s a pretty exclusive club with Paseana (1992, 1993) and Zenyatta (2004, 2008) the only other two-time champions. All three of those gals are in the National Museum of Racing Hall and Fame in upstate New York. Anyone taking bets that Letruska (19 of 25, a champion in two countries) won’t join them in Saratoga?
Unlike her first Apple Blossom victory, by a head over two-time champion Monomoy Girl, little in-race suspense ensued. Jose Ortiz, sending the 4-5 favorite from the rail post in a five-horse field, slowed things to 23.99 and 47.26 — a tall order catching a legitimate speed horse and downright impossible against Letruska, who scored her 10th Grade 1 victory.
Most important, perhaps, she broke on top, something that did not happen when second by a head to Shedaresthedevil (a noticeable no-show Saturday) in the 2021 Grade 2 Azeri. In a time of greater urgency, Fausto Gutierrez, training the homebred daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, changed riders, switching to Irad Ortiz Jr. for the Apple Blossom. Ortiz or brother Jose has ridden Letruska in her last eight races. (A three-time Eclipse Award winner as champion jockey, Ortiz has been into it with stewards lately; he rode Saturday at Keeneland, which has a turf course and where top client Chad Brown has horses).
Thus challenged, the four others in the Apple Blossom were playing catch-up. Ce Ce, winner last out of the Azeri and the 2020 Apple Blossom (from post 14; what difference a champion does to fieid size), made a three-wide move on the second turn. Clariere took the place with some late running.
“This horse is different,” Gutierrez said. “To win the Apple Blossom twice is great. This was a handicap and now we’re giving weight, you have to remember that. When we won the Apple Blossom last year, Monomoy (Girl) was giving us weight. That’s a difference this year. She ran great. All the time I’m nervous with these races. She’s come back in good form and now we’re thinking about the next race.”
Formerly champion of Mexico, Letruska earned the American equivalent among older females last year despite a 32-length drubbing when 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar and the Grade 3 Royal Delta victory Feb. 26 at Gulfstream got her back on track. For final proof, Gutierrez brought her back to Oaklawn.
A $600,000 payback, raising Letruska’s career earning to $2,948,529, verified her place in racing today — if not in history.
