Letruska Aimed Towards June 11 Ogden Phipps Stakes

Letruska  emerged in good order April 24 from her Apple Blossom (G1) victory the day prior, and trainer Fausto Gutierrez said the immediate plan is to target the June 11 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park. 

"This was a race that had a very easy form to read," he said of the Apple Blossom. "The complicated part was the quality of the horses. OK, we are the speed and the other ones come from behind. Ce Ce  was nearer to us than Clairiere  and both are very strong horses.

"Really, when we entered the stretch I had a sensation, like those two were coming very strong. Very, very dangerous, Ce Ce and then Clairiere. But again, (Letruska) ran with the class that helped her win an Eclipse, all the races that she won. She ran a very nice race and the top three runners finished very near each other in a very good time. Faster than last year in comparison to other races."

Letruska coasted to a frontrunning 2 3/4-length score in last year's Phipps, which was among her four grade 1 victories in 2021. Gutierrez said the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) this fall at Keeneland is the year-end goal for Letruska, who finished a leg-weary 10th in the 2021 running at Del Mar. 

Gutierrez reiterated Sunday morning that Letruska's post-Apple Blossom racing schedule in 2022 won't be as taxing as last year. Letruska's only other loss in a grueling eight-race cross-country campaign was a runner-up finish in the Azeri Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles, Oaklawn's final major prep for the Apple Blossom. Letruska opened her 2022 campaign with a frontrunning three-length victory in the Feb. 26 Royal Delta Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park.

"It's complicated sometimes to speak about a plan, but the idea is to have less races than last year, especially less trips," Gutierrez said. "You never know because you can have surprises, but the idea is to go to Belmont (Stakes) Day, to the Phipps."

Letruska's win on Saturday was her 19th in 25 starts and pushed her career earnings to $2,948,529. Gutierrez trains the 6-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Super Saver   for breeder/owner St. George Stable (German Larrea). Letruska began her career in Mexico and won her first six starts there, including four in 2019 when she was that country's champion 3-year-old filly. 

Paseana , Azeri , and Zenyatta , are the only other multiple Apple Blossom winners. All are members of the Hall of Fame.

"To win the Apple Blossom twice is great," Gutierrez said.

Saturday's race marked the first time that two Apple Blossom winners met in the Apple Blossom since it became a two-turn race for older fillies and mares in 1975. In addition to winning the 2020 Apple Blossom, Ce Ce was an Eclipse Award winner last year as the country's champion female sprinter.