Letruska Prevails in a Battle of Champions in Oaklawn Park’s Apple Blossom Handicap (G1)
One is the second filly to win the classic Preakness Stakes (G1) in the last 96 years. Another became a champion in Mexico for her Mexican connections. And the third is a future National Museum of Racing Hall of Famer with two Eclipse Awards and two Breeders’ Cup Championships on her resume.
Two-time Eclipse Award champion Monomoy Girl.
Photo by Tom Ferry.
In one of the most highly anticipated races of the year, three of the top female horses in America didn’t disappoint in yesterday’s $1,000,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park.
The bob of a head. The length of a nose.
2021 Apple Blossom Handicap (G!) Champion Letruska.
Photo by Tom Ferry.
Glory in the sport of horse racing can be determined and defined by the narrowest of margins. That was the case when Letruska upset 3-5 post-time favorite Monomoy Girl at the wire to capture the blanket of hot-pink and white carnations. In what was billed pre-race as a duel between 2020’s Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Swiss Skydiver and Champion Older Female Monomoy Girl, ended up being a coming-out party for the Mexican champion Letruska.
The five-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Super Saver won her first seven career starts, including six by a combined 40½ lengths at Hipodromo De Las Americas in Mexico City. Her streak was highlighted by convincing wins in two legs of Mexico’s Triple Crown for three-year-old fillies in 2019, which led to year-end championship honors.
Trained by Fausto Gutierrez and bred/owned by St. George Stable LLC, Letruska came into the Apple Blossom having won 12 of her 17 lifetime starts, including the $125,000 Shuvee Handicap (G3) last August at Saratoga and the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic(G3) January 31 at Sam Houston Park. Last month, she came to Oaklawn and was beaten a head by 2020 Kentucky Oaks (G1) champion Shedaresthedevil in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2).
One year ago, Swiss Skydiver was in the early stages of a season that would see her win five graded stakes, highlighted by a triumph over the boys and eventual 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic in the 145th Preakness Stakes (G1).
In her 2021 debut on March 13, she proved her championship season of a year ago was no fluke when she won the $300,000 Beholder Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park. After weights were released for the Apple Blossom one week ago, trainer Kenny McPeek said of Swiss Skydiver, “We’re coming with a beast.”
With confirmation of Swiss Skydiver’s entry in the Apple Blossom, excitement grew over her anticipated rematch with Monomoy Girl. The two met in last fall’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland. The exciting confrontation never materialized as Swiss Skydiver stumbled at the start, eventually tired and finished a disappointing seventh. Monomoy Girl, on the other hand, demonstrated why she was the even-money favorite in the ten-horse field, and edged away in the final furlong to capture her second Distaff in three years.
2020 Preakness Stakes (G1) Champion Swiss Skydiver.
Photo by Tom Ferry.
Following the Breeders’ Cup, Monomoy Girl was sold at the November 2020 Fasig-Tipton Sale for $9.5 million to Spendthrift Farm, who announced the mare would remain in training with Brad Cox for her six-year-old campaign in 2021. She came to Oaklawn Park for her seasonal debut on February 28 and won the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3).
The daunting power of Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver and Letruska kept the field size relatively small for the 56th running of the Apple Blossom, as a total of six entered the gate. Chance to Shine, Another Broad and Getridofwhatailesu made up the remainder of the competition but were afforded very little chance in the 1 1/16-mile affair by the betting public.
Swiss Skydiver broke sharply at the outset and was quickly joined by Letruska, who grabbed the lead through opening fractions of :232/5 and :474/5 for the first half mile. Monomoy Girl applied pressure on the far turn as these three clearly separated themselves from the remainder of the field. Letruska showed the way up the backstretch, trailed closely by a driving Monomoy Girl, who passed by Swiss Skydiver.
As the trio hit the top of the stretch, Monomoy Girl put a head in front of Letruska and grabbed the lead as Swiss Skydiver began to tire.
The extended stretch duel between Monomoy Girl and Letruska was an instant classic and a battle of wills.
Letruska (R) narrowly defeats Monomoy Girl (L). Photo by Tom Ferry.
Just when it appeared Monomoy Girl might hold off her rival, Letruska fought back and won at the wire with the bob of her head. Swiss Skydiver finished 6 ½ lengths back in third, followed by Getridofwhatailesu, Another Broad and Chance to Shine.
Letruska’s trainer Fausto Gutierrez was ecstatic.
Letruska with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in the winner’s circle.
Photo by Tom Ferry.
“When Monomoy Girl took the lead and I saw Swiss Skydiver start to go back, in my mind, I thought second is very good, said Guiterrez. “She started to come back and back. I didn’t see the picture very clearly. I went to check the replay and I thought, ‘Oops, we won!’.”
Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. listened to his horse.
“She likes to be on the lead. I let her go, let her take the lead, said Ortiz. “She relaxed and I was able to save something for the end. She responded pretty well.”
For Monomoy Girl, it was only her third defeat in seventeen career starts, however, she once again displayed the heart of a champion. Expect Swiss Skydiver to come back strong as well.
We are early in the season with plenty of racing, including Saratoga, remaining on the horizon – Racing fans have three outstanding girls to keep their eyes on between now and November’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships.