Letruska Soars in Rampart Stakes

Racing without blinkers for the first time in her career, St. George Stable's homebred Letruska rewarded the instincts of trainer Fausto Gutierrez with a 6 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Rampart Stakes (G3) Dec. 12 at Gulfstream Park.

The 4-year-old Super Saver  filly came in off a fourth in the Oct. 4 Beldame Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, and Gutierrez executed an experiment that paid dividends in the mile affair. Letruska opened a seven-length lead in the 1 1/8-mile Beldame before fading.

"I had a big question mark about today because after her last race in New York, I decided to remove the blinkers," the trainer said. "I came to the conclusion that all the time she runs, she never saw the other horses. It's important how she responds when she feels the competition near her.

"It was a very good performance."

With Emisael Jaramillo in the irons from post 5 in a six-horse field, 3-2 choice Letruska broke alertly and was hustled to the lead, where she set opening fractions of :23.92 and :46.31 with Bajan Girl in closest pursuit.  

Letruska remained in command through three-quarters in 1:10.24 and began to separate herself from the field, opening a three-length advantage through seven-eighths in 1:22.47. She drew clear under right-handed urging while drifting out mildly. Dream Marie came with a run up the rail to edge Bajan Girl by three-quarters of a length for second. Good Credence, Sally's Curlin, and Crumb Bun completed the order of finish.

The final time was 1:35.03 on a fast track.

Letruska returned $5 on a $2 win ticket and improved her record to 11 wins and a third from 15 starts, with earnings of $310,919. She has a 3-for-3 record at Gulfstream, where she won the June 27 Added Elegance Stakes and the 2019 Copa Invitacional del Caribe going 1 1/4 miles against males. The Rampart is her second graded score in North America; she also won the Aug. 30 Shuvee Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course.  

Letruska began her career with a six-race win streak in Mexico, including back-to-back grade 1 stakes, and was named champion 3-year-old filly there last season before making her U.S. debut in the Copa Invitacional. She also won a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming event in April at Oaklawn Park.

"We'll stay here and we'll decide what's possible," Gutierrez said. "I think we'll stretch her out next time."

Bred in Kentucky out of the graded stakes-placed Successful Appeal mare Magic Appeal, a full sister to grade 1 winner J P's Gusto, Letruska is a half sister to the late black-type winner Trigger Warning, a son of Candy Ride  who was third in the 2018 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) and Ohio Derby (G3) and second in that year's Indiana Derby (G3). Magic Appeal has a winning 3-year-old Tapizar  filly named Mixteca, a 2-year-old Street Sense  colt named Nuzhat, a yearling colt by Hard Spun , and an Arrogate colt foaled April 18. She was bred to Malibu Moon  for 2021.  

Video: Rampart S. (G3)