Letruska stuns two American champs in classic Blossom
Turns out, the 57th Apple Blossom Handicap morphed into a three-horse race with a twist ending.
Mexican champion Letruska bravely fought back after being headed by Monomoy Girl and nosed out the two-time American champions in an Oaklawn epic Saturday.
“Letruska turns back the champion,” track announcer Vic Stauffer scramed after what had been billed as a battle of American Eclipse Award winners.
Swiss Skydiver, last year’s
3-year-old filly champion and Preakness winner, finished a non-threatening third, beaten
6 1/2 lengths for second. Last year’s Fantasy winner at Oaklawn, in her second start at 4, the Daredevil filly could not match strides when Monomoy Girl went after Letruska, the pacesetter, going into the second turn.
Monomoy Girl, ridden by Florent Geroux, opened a clear lead in the stretch and seemed on her way to her second victory of the meeting and 15th in 17 career starts. Instead, the 6-year-old Tapizar mare suffered her first defeat since a 2019 Grade 1 disqualification in the Cotillion at Parx Racing. Moreover, she was headed at the wire Saturday for the first time since her 2-year-old season.
Letruska justified trainer Fausto Gutierrez’ decision to enlist three-time American riding champion Irad Ortiz Jr. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver did not get away alertly for Joel Rosario when second to Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil in Oaklawn’s Grade 2 Azeri March 13.
Before that, controlling speed had been Letruska’s key to wins in the Grade 3 Shuvee and Grade 3 Rampart Handicap last year, previously the biggest of her career.
Swiss Skydiver, asked for speed early by Robby Albarado, gave way to Letruska, who took her five rivals a half-mile in
47.96 seconds and three quarters in 1:12.26.
Saturday’s win, making her 13 of 18 lifetime and a racing millionaire, vaulted Letruska into history as the first Mexican-based runner to score an American Grade 1 victory.
The 3-1 third choice, Letruska paid $8.80, $3 and $2.20. She went the mile and sixteenth in 1:43.14 over a drying-out track updated to fast before the 6:12 p.m. post.
Receiving 6 pounds from highweight Monomoy Girl (124) and 2 from Swiss Skydiver, Letruska bettered her fifth-place finish in last year’s Ballerina at Saratoga, her first Grade 1 try.
Getridofwhatailesu, an early-season Oaklawn stakes winner, was followed by Another Broad and Chance to Shine at respective odds of 21-1, 52-1 and 97-1.
Monomoy Girl came off a Feb. 28 victory in the Grade 3 Bayakoa, her first start at Oaklawn. She was returned to trainer Brad Cox after purchased for $9.75 million at Keeneland last November one day after winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff for a second time. After the Bayakoa, she returned to trainer Brad Cox’ New Orleans base for two works at Fair Grounds before a half-mile tune-up at Oaklawn Sunday. Letruska started her career
in Mexico, where she was a multiple Grade 1 winner. She began racing in the United States in December 2019, shipping to Oaklawn last April for an allowance-optional claiming victory and running third in another local race.
The Azeri marked Letruska’s second start of the year off a Jan. 31 triumph in the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic in Texas.
Swiss Skydiver, last-out Grade 1 winner of the Beholder Mile at Santa Anita, ran without bleeder medication for the second time this year. Following her Preakness victory, she finished seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, her first encounter with Monomoy Girl.